Multiscale Modeling of Epoxies and
Epoxy-Based Composites
Xiawa Wu and Jaafar A. El-Awady
1 Introduction
Epoxies are thermoset polymers with highly cross-linked molecular structures
[1]. They are synthesized in a curing process, which involves chemical reactions
between epoxy resins with or without curing agents [2]. Cured epoxies are typically
characterized by their high elastic modulus, mechanical strength, thermal stability,
electrical and chemical resistance, and a strong adhesion to other solid surfaces.
Thus, epoxies are often used as adhesives, coatings, and matrix phases in fiberreinforced composites for a wide range of industrial applications [3].
Epoxy resins usually have low molecular weight and weak thermal and mechanical properties. The curing process transforms the epoxy resins into a threedimensional network with improved macroscale properties [4]. Some major factors
that affect the curing process include the combination of epoxy resins and curing
agents, the curing temperature and pressure, the cooling rate, and the presence
of other materials, such as fiber reinforcements or nanoparticles [3, 5–11]. Many
experimental studies (e.g., [12–16]) have aimed to quantify the structural, thermal
(e.g., glass transition temperature, thermal conductivity, and the coefficient of
thermal expansion), and mechanical (e.g., elastic modulus, mechanical strength,
strain to failure, and failure modes) properties of different epoxy systems. In
X. Wu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, The Behrend College,
Erie, PA, USA
J. A. El-Awady ()
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD, USA
e-mail: jelawady@jhu.edu
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Ghosh et al. (eds.), Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME),
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40562-5_10
267
Epoxy-Based Composites
Xiawa Wu and Jaafar A. El-Awady
1 Introduction
Epoxies are thermoset polymers with highly cross-linked molecular structures
[1]. They are synthesized in a curing process, which involves chemical reactions
between epoxy resins with or without curing agents [2]. Cured epoxies are typically
characterized by their high elastic modulus, mechanical strength, thermal stability,
electrical and chemical resistance, and a strong adhesion to other solid surfaces.
Thus, epoxies are often used as adhesives, coatings, and matrix phases in fiberreinforced composites for a wide range of industrial applications [3].
Epoxy resins usually have low molecular weight and weak thermal and mechanical properties. The curing process transforms the epoxy resins into a threedimensional network with improved macroscale properties [4]. Some major factors
that affect the curing process include the combination of epoxy resins and curing
agents, the curing temperature and pressure, the cooling rate, and the presence
of other materials, such as fiber reinforcements or nanoparticles [3, 5–11]. Many
experimental studies (e.g., [12–16]) have aimed to quantify the structural, thermal
(e.g., glass transition temperature, thermal conductivity, and the coefficient of
thermal expansion), and mechanical (e.g., elastic modulus, mechanical strength,
strain to failure, and failure modes) properties of different epoxy systems. In
X. Wu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, The Behrend College,
Erie, PA, USA
J. A. El-Awady ()
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD, USA
e-mail: jelawady@jhu.edu
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Ghosh et al. (eds.), Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME),
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40562-5_10
267