Review:Progress in Core-shell Rubber Particles for Efficiently Toughening Resins

Core-shell toughening particles are structured composite particles consisting of generally two different components, one at the center as a rubbery elastic core and surrounding by the second as a glassy inelastic shell. The design, preparation, and application of core-shell polymer particles have been briefly reviewed. Morphological characteristics of the core-shell particles by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) are focused. The vital factors that are useful to control core-shell morphology and toughening properties including core-shell monomer species, polymerization conditions, cross-linking reagents, synthetic method, and post-processing techniques are analyzed. Distinguished properties are mainly considered as the most desirable features that endow core-shell polymer particles with various applicabilities, particularly as effectively toughening components in brittle epoxy resin and polylactide that are substrate of copper clad laminate widely used in the modern electronic world and environmentally friendly materials that are useful as packaging films, disposable tableware, biomedical equipment, and new energy vehicles.