Publication

Abstract : This review aims to bring to light the potential efficiency of various materials as toughening agents for epoxy thermosets. The area of epoxy toughening has fascinated material scientists since toughened epoxies are employed as the appropriate candidates in a wide arena of applications. Based on the structure–property relationships, the traditional chemistry approaches have been tried so far to toughen the epoxy matrix. With the advent of the era of nanotechnology, the field of epoxy toughening has also gained momentum through the utilization of various types of modified and unmodified nanofillers in the epoxy matrix. In fact many new materials have replaced the conventional agents in the field of epoxy toughening. We are giving a comprehensive review which hints the various mechanisms of toughening as well as the novel materials used in the present scenario as potential toughening agents in the epoxy matrix with special reference to rubber, block copolymers, and nanofillers. POLYM. COMPOS., 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers