A rapid method for the evaluation of cure kinetics of thermosetting polymers

Abstract

Thermo-analytical methods are widely used in the characterization of various materials. Among them, DSC is especially important for polymer analysis, since it enables determination of basic thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of crystallization, melting, crosslinking, etc. In this study we report the results of a rapid method used for the evaluation of the data obtained by DSC measurements of a cure reaction for thermosetting resins. The method was based on the Borchardt and Daniels kinetic model and enables determination of basic parameters that are important for product and process development, as well as for optimization of cure cycles for a variety of thermosets. The method described in this work will help university students and engineers in the fields of polymer science and engineering to simplify the analysis process for data collected during cure measurements with DSC.