Rubber‐ and thermoplastic‐modified polymer networks. Phase separation process induced by polymerization and polycondensation

Polymer blends based on thermosets are very useful for many applications (toughened plastics, adhesives, composites, polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals). Generally, at curing temperature, Ti, the initial mixture of monomer(s) and additive is homogeneous. The dispersed phase results from the phase separation induced by polycondensation or polymerization of the monomer(s). The process can be looked upon as a «chemical quench» because the chemical reaction drives the change in free energy. The role of chemistry is principally to try to control the morphologies; some trends are given in this publication.