Accelerated ageing due to moisture absorption of thermally cured epoxy resin/polyethersulphone blends. Thermal, mechanical and morphological behaviour

Fracture toughness tests showed an increase of the KIC value with the increase of the toughening agent concentration, revealing both a dramatic decrease of the same parameter after 1 week ageing for all the materials and the tendency to reach an almost constant value after 1 month ageing for all the formulations, with a slight increase with respect to 1 week ageing. These results have been interpreted on the basis of the SEM analysis, showing the presence of a well defined micrometric PES particles distribution in the epoxy/anhydride matrix, and discussed in the light of different water absorption mechanisms at short and long ageing times.