Mechanical properties–morphology relationships in nano‐/microstructured epoxy matrices modified with PEO–PPO–PEO block copolymers

Epoxy-based blends containing poly(ethylene oxide)-co-poly(propylene oxide)-co-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO–PPO–PEO) block copolymers with different PEO/PPO molar ratios have been investigated in order to analyze the effect of the generated morphologies and interactions between components on the mechanical properties of the blends. Mechanical, morphological and dynamic mechanical analyses indicate that the observed increase of flexural modulus can be related to the decrease of free volume. In modified systems that remain miscible, an increase of flexural modulus, strength and fracture toughness can be observed. Also, macrophase- and microphase-separated systems show an increase of fracture toughness but not of flexural modulus and strength at low contents of block copolymers. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry