Samples of fluoropolymers were blended with a commercial epoxy at 5 to 50 wt.% of fluoropolymer content and also with a so-called thermoplastic epoxy (BLOX). Pure epoxy samples were studied for comparison. Scratch depths and viscoelastic recoveries were determined within AE7.5 nm with a Swiss Micro-Scratch Tester; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also performed. Significant improvements in the original scratch penetration depth and in the scratch healing as compared to the pure epoxies are demonstrated. The extent of the improvement depends on the chemical structures of the fluoropolymers, nanoscale structure of the surface, the presence and concentration of electronegative atoms, and the presence and concentration of carbonyl and phenylene groups. A structural description of the fluoropolymers is provided on atomistic modeling.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.