Cure Cycle Analysis in Thermoset Polymers by Thermal and Mechanical Analysis

Abstract

A thermoset polymer can be used for specific applications by creating a unique chemical composition that is designed for certain characteristic environments. To know the behavior of a thermoset polymer, it is necessary to thermally analyze its behavior during the curing process, as well as its mechanical behavior under certain loads that are applied in its field of application. In this study, the epoxy resin X was created at high temperatures, which there was no record of its thermal or mechanical behavior; the resin was analyzed to determine if it was possible to make a reduction in its curing cycle that was at temperature of 425° F with a time of 24 hours. As a result, through thermal analysis such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), rheometry, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA); as well as mechanical analysis, such as stress, hardness and planar cutting tests; it was possible to reduce the curing cycle of resin X, which is used in aerospace generators, from 24 hours at 425 ° F to 8 hours at 425 ° F. In the same way, this reduction of the cure cycle was verified by means of a qualification of a product that involved the reduction of the curing cycle of the epoxy resin obtaining very similar results to the original ones, verifying that the change of curing in the epoxy resin did not affected the functioning of the component. This methodology can be used and applied for the study of thermoset polymers that are used in several industries such as aerospace, automotive, among others.

Efficient Use of Carbon Fibers as Heating Elements for Curing of Epoxy Matrix Composites

“…Finally, the two bars on the right side of each figure, are denoted as “Oven 70 °C” and “DC 70 °C” and represent the specimens that were cured at a temperature of 70 °C in an oven or via direct current (DC), respectively. A 24 h curing time was chosen for all specimens and all cases to ensure that the epoxy resin was completely cured according to the literature [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ].…”