Fully aminated rigid‐rod aromatic polyamide efficiently reinforces tetraglycidyl diamino diphenyl methane epoxy resin and its carbon fiber composite

Abstract Tetraglycidyl diamino diphenyl methane (TGDDM) and its carbon fiber composite are widely studied and used because of their heat resistance and high performance. In order to obtain efficient reinforcing effects in a simple manner, we adopt the idea of molecular composite—uniformly dispersing the rigid‐rod macromolecules in the TGDDM matrix. Herein, we prepared fully aminated‐poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) by direct polycondensation and hydrogenation reduction as the reinforcing agent. The fully aminated‐PPTA is distributed uniformly in the cross‐linked epoxy resin (EP) network by chemical bonds, and achieves efficient reinforcement. With the addition of only 0.5 wt% fully aminated‐PPTA, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of EP are improved to 127.7 ± 7.4 MPa (+28%) and 3.36 ± 0.15 GPa (+44%); the flexural strength and modulus are improved to 209.6 ± 9.4 MPa (+42%) and 3.70 ± 0.14 GPa (+37%); the notch impact strength is improved by 32%. Crucially, the heat resistance of EP almost remains unchanged. Furthermore, the flexural properties and interlaminar shear strength of the carbon fiber composite are also comprehensively increased. Compared with other modified fillers, the fully aminated‐PPTA is simple to prepare and blend, and is an efficient reinforcing agent for TGDDM and its carbon fiber composite benefitting from its rigid‐rod main chain and amino side groups. Highlights Molecular composite can achieve excellent strengthen and toughen effects. Fully aminated‐PPTA is embedded uniformly in EP network by chemical bonds. TGDDM is effectively reinforced without deteriorated heat resistance. Fully aminated‐PPTA is also a comprehensive reinforcement for EP/CF composite.