Rubber toughened epoxy-based nanocomposite: a promising pathway toward advanced materials

Epoxy resins suffer from intrinsic brittleness which may possibly limit their engineering applications. Rubber toughening has been employed to reduce this deficiency. Different types of rubber, modified rubber and rubber particles were considered as toughening contenders to form epoxy/rubber materials. This article essentially offers state-of-the-art review of epoxy/rubber blend and epoxy/rubber-based nanocomposite. Rubber toughened epoxy resins have been reinforced with nanofillers such as graphene, carbon nanotube (CNT), carbon black (CB), nanoclay, silica and other nanoparticles. Development of these nanocomposites has led to improved performance of rubber toughened epoxies in adhesives, coatings, anti-corrosives and radiation-shielding materials for military, aeronautical and aerospace-related applications.