Development of Glass Fibers Laminates Toughened with Core–Shell Rubber Particles for Applications in Cold Environments

This research focuses on developing high-performance glass fiber laminated composites with improved toughness, particularly for applications in cold environments where traditional composites can suffer from embrittlement and reduced impact resistance. To address this issue, the toughness of Atlac^® 580, a bisphenol A-based vinyl ester urethane resin, was enhanced by incorporating core-shell rubber (CSR) particles. Once a mixing procedure to better distribute the CSR particles was identified, the CSR particles were introduced in concentrations ranging from 5 to 15 wt.%. The optimal content for a significant improvement in fracture toughness was identified as 10 wt.%. Finally, three types of glass fiber fabrics with different grammages and weaves were integrated into the optimized resin-CSR system, and their mechanical, morphological, and impact properties were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the toughened resin composite outperformed the reference composite, confirming its enhanced durability and suitability for demanding applications in cold environments.