Materials Characterization of High-Temperature Epoxy Resins: SC-79 and SC-15/SC-79 Blend

The relatively low glass transition temperature Tg of the Armys SC-15 epoxy resin system necessitates study into suitable alternative resins capable of better low- and high-temperature performance. This work investigates two of those alternative resins, SC-79 and CCMFCS2, a blend of SC-15 and SC-79, both manufactured by Applied Poleramic Inc. Benicia, CA. The viscosities and gel times of these resins are similar to SC-15s, thus substitution of the SC-15 with SC-79 or CCMFCS2 would cause no processing issues. Several different curing cycles were tested for each resin in an effort to find the best process for U.S. Army applications. Three slow cure cycles showed no meaningful advantages over faster, elevated temperature cures. Under all tested cure conditions, both SC-79 and CCMFCS2 are able to achieve higher Tgs and similar or greater flexural properties than SC-15 however, SC-15s fracture and impact properties were superior.