Glass fiber reinforced composites of phenolic–urea–epoxy resin blends

The present work aims to modify conventional epoxy resin by blending with four different phenolic–urea oligomers. These oligomers are similar to phenolic–urea resin matrix and simultaneously function as amino curing agent for epoxy matrix. In this context, phenolic–urea oligomers were prepared respectively by polycondensation reaction of four phenols namely phenol, m-cresol, resorcinol and 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, respectively with formaldehyde and urea in presence of acid catalyst. The resulting oligomers were characterized by elemental analysis, spectral studies (IR & NMR), number average molecular weight (M¯n) estimated by non-aqueous conductometric titration and thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Each of these oligomers was used in resin matrix as a blending component for the modification of commercial epoxy resin for fabricating glass fiber reinforced laminates. Finally these laminates were evaluated for their synergetic thermal stability, mechanical properties and chemical resistance to different reagents.