Mechanoluminescence of Anhydride and Imidazole Cured Epoxies Under the Combined Effect of Thermal and Cyclic Mechanical Stresses

The luminescence of two crosslinked BA/FDGE epoxy resins under cyclic mechanical and thermal stresses has been studied. Spectra under thermal or combined thermal and mechanical stresses show the same patterns with a maximum around 550 nm indicating that the same molecular groups are responsible for the luminescence under both stresses. The luminescence also shows a delay with the applied stress decreasing with temperature. This study could help elucidate the mechanisms at the origin of mechanoluminescence and thermo-mechanical degradation in epoxy polymers.