Study of the acoustic emission response to a core-shell rubber-toughened, high-temperature composite

This work explores the effect of core-shell rubber (CSR) addition on cure reaction and resulting mechanical thermal properties a highly cross-linked network made from 4,4′- tetraglycidyl diamino diphenyl methane 3,3′-diamino sulphone. Up to 20 wt% CSR rubber, composed soft polybutadiene core hard poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) shell was dispersed in epoxy/amine after found increase glass transition temperature degradation temperatures modestly, while reducing char yield. Flexural also reduced with addition, although fracture toughness (KIC) increased by 45% at CSR. Furthermore, strain energy release rate (GIC) corresponding carbon fibre composite same concentration, almost 115%. Acoustic emission spectroscopy is introduced as tool for investigating crack propagation during mode I loading identifying any differences failure mechanism between unmodified CSR-modified composites.