Spatial Distribution of the Network Structure in Epoxy Resin via the MAXS-CT Method

We have succeeded in visualizing the spatial heterogeneity of the reaction ratio in epoxy resins by combining medium-angle X-ray scattering (MAXS) and computed tomography (CT). The reaction ratio is proportional to the degree of cross-linking between epoxy and amine in epoxy resins. The reaction ratio and its spatial inhomogeneity affect the toughness of epoxy resins. However, there has been no non-destructive method to measure the spatial inhomogeneity of the reaction ratio, although we can measure only the spatially averaged reaction ratio by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). We found that the scattering peak reflected the cross-linking structures in the q region of MAXS and that the peak intensity is proportional to the reaction ratio. By reconstructing CT images from this peak intensity, we visualized the spatial heterogeneity of the reaction ratio. The application of this method may not be limited to epoxy resins but may extend to studying the heterogeneity of cross-linked structures in other materials.