Polymers and Polymer Composites

CURING STUDY OF A TOUGHENED EPOXY SYSTEM USING THE DYNAMIC TORSIONAL VIBRATION METHOD

August 1, 2004 By: Chen Dazhu; Yuan Fang; He Pingsheng; Quian Jiasheng Research article

Title: CURING STUDY OF A TOUGHENED EPOXY SYSTEM USING THE DYNAMIC TORSIONAL VIBRATION METHOD
Page Range: p.719-726
Author(s): Chen Dazhu; Yuan Fang; He Pingsheng; Quian Jiasheng
File size: 178K
Download the pdf (subscribers only)
Buy the pdf (non-subscribers)
Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 12
Issue No: No. 8

Abstract
A study is reported of the cure kinetics of an epoxy/polyamide system using the dynamic torsional vibration method, by measuring the change in mechanical properties (torque) during the cure. The experimental data were analysed by the non-equilibrium thermodynamic fluctuation theory and the Avrami method. Results from dynamic mechanical thermal analysis indicated that the fully cured specimens of epoxy resin/polyamide exist in the rubbery plateau state at the applied cure temperature, and that with increasing cure temperature, the equilibrium torque dropped, the gel time decreased and the cure reaction took less time to complete. After the gel point, the same curing mechanism occurred at various cure temperatures. Also investigated was the effect of increasing the hardener concentration on the rate of crosslinking at a given cure temperature. Excess polyamide was shown to increase the number of crosslinking points, and hence, enlarged the Avrami exponent. 18 refs.


Related reading

More journal reading and science coverage connected to this topic.