biostudies-literatureTang BSichuan Youth Science and Technology FoundationNational Natural Science Foundation of China17380-17388https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9080404biostudies-literatureUnknown8(31)Flexible reactive poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-<i>b</i>-poly(propylene glycol)-<i>b</i>-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (GPG) and nonreactive poly(ethylene glycol)-<i>b</i>-poly(propylene glycol)-<i>b</i>-poly(ethylene glycol) (EPE80) were utilized to toughen a trifunctional epoxy (diglycidyl 4, 5-epoxycyclohexane-1, 2-dicarboxylate, TDE-85). In comparison with the nonreactive EPE80 and reactive GPG92 with long reactive blocks (<i>L</i> _reactive), the incorporation of reactive GPG83 with short <i>L</i> _reactive improved the comprehensive mechanical properties of the epoxy. Upon an optimal GPG83 loading of 2.5 wt%, the tensile strength, elongation at break and critical strain energy release rate (<i>G</i> _1c) increased by <i>ca.</i> 31%, 45.9% and 130.8%, respectRSC advancesToward simultaneous toughening and reinforcing of trifunctional epoxies by low loading flexible reactive triblock copolymers.PMC9080404513731092015JQ001251721091Li GKong MHuang YTang BYang QfalseToward simultaneous toughening and reinforcing of trifunctional epoxies by low loading flexible reactive triblock copolymers.Flexible reactive poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-<i>b</i>-poly(propylene glycol)-<i>b</i>-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (GPG) and nonreactive poly(ethylene glycol)-<i>b</i>-poly(propylene glycol)-<i>b</i>-poly(ethylene glycol) (EPE80) were utilized to toughen a trifunctional epoxy (diglycidyl 4, 5-epoxycyclohexane-1, 2-dicarboxylate, TDE-85). In comparison with the nonreactive EPE80 and reactive GPG92 with long reactive blocks (<i>L</i> _reactive), the incorporation of reactive GPG83 with short <i>L</i> _reactive improved the comprehensive mechanical properties of the epoxy. Upon an optimal GPG83 loading of 2.5 wt%, the tensile strength, elongation at break and critical strain energy release rate (<i>G</i> _1c) increased by <i>ca.</i> 31%, 45.9% and 130.8%, respect2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 May2025-04-26T15:24:14.476Z2025-02-19T03:24:37.394ZS-EPMC90804043553921910.1039/c8ra01017j