Development and characterisation of dynamic bi-phase (epoxy/PU) composites for enhanced impact resistance

The thermosets are non-repairable and non-recyclable and non-repairable polymers. However, the introduction of reversible/dynamic chemical bonds into polymer networks has overcome such limitations of the thermoset composites. In this study, utilizing the dynamic polymer systems, a new approach to enhance the impact resistance of thermoset composites is adopted. Separate CFRP laminates produced with dynamic epoxy and dynamic PU resin systems are joined in three different configurations to obtain dynamic two-phase composites with repairable, recyclable, self-healing and enhanced impact resistance properties. The bi-phase dynamic composites were characterised for structural, thermal, flexural and impact properties in comparison to a reference dynamic single-phase epoxy composite.