Toughened resin systems for composite applications

摘要

Thermosetting resins for use in high performance fiber- reinforced composites are toughened without compromising their processability by the inclusion of micron-sized particles of thermoplastic material which are solid at ambient temperatures but solubilize in the resins at a temperature below the gel temperature of the thermosetting resin. By appropriate selection of the solubilization temperature (or temperature range) of the thermoplastic material, one achieves a composite product having intralaminar or interlaminar toughness emphasized or a combination of both. The invention is of particular utility when applied to bismaleimide resin systems.