Preliminary Study of the Influence of Post Curing Parameters to the Particle Reinforced Composite's Mechanical and Physical Properties

Abstract

This study examines the effect of different post cure parameters to a polymer matrix particulate reinforced composite material. The goal is to evaluate the importance of different factors and to suggest a well-balanced post cure mode that supports the application of the material.<br />Polymer matrix composites are post cured at elevated temperature to increase the amount of cross linking to achieve better chemical and heat resistance and mechanical properties. Every material has an individual post cure process that depends from the raw materials. Post curing variables include temperature, duration of cure, the time between initial curing and post curing and temperature profile gradient.<br />There are several ways to determine the cure state of a polymer. It can be evaluated based on the mechanical and physical properties, residual styrene content, glass transition temperature, residual exotherm or solvent swelling test.<br /> For the determination of the suitable post cure parameters test slabs were casted and post cured with varying time and temperature. Glass transition temperature, residual exotherm, softening in ethanol, surface hardness, flexural strength and flexural modulus were determined. It is shown that the material should be cured at 60°C–80°C. With higher temperature and extended time of cure the glass transition temperature raises but the material becomes too brittle.<p>DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.18.3.2435">http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.18.3.2435</a></p

Influence of post curing on GFRP hybrid composite

“…However, the increase in curing temperature improves the mechanical properties compared to curing at room temperature [10,11]. As the post-curing process improves mechanical properties of the composites and enhances their chemical durability and heat resistance [12], post-curing heat treatment processes have been studied for composites and its adhesives [13].…”

“…During crosslinking, the stateof matrix changes from liquid to gel and then transforms into solid. Curing can be done at room temperature as well as at elevated temperature [2].…”

Multi-Objective Curing Cycle Optimization for Glass Fabric/Epoxy Composites Using Poisson Regression and Genetic Algorithm

“…Therefore, many factors are initially included so that the non-significant variables can be identified easily. Factors like heating rate (a), temperature (T 1 ), time (h 1 ) largely influence the mechanical behavior of the epoxy matrix [19][20][21][22] and, consequently, of the laminated composite. The impact of these three factors on tensile…”

“…tensile and flexural performance, the levels of the temperature factor (T 1 ) should be both below and above T g temperature, in order to investigate all the curing mechanisms can be achieved [3][4][5][19][20][21] . The levels of the time factor (h 1 ) and the heating rate factor (a) were selected to be in accordance with both the literature [19][20][21]40 and manufacturers' guides for similar epoxy systems.…”

“…Some studies control only one factor per time, i.e. per experimental series 21 . The central composite rotatable design combined with a quadratic response surface model has been also used 22 .…”