Kinetische Analyse und Optimierung des Aushärtungsprozesses in Abhängigkeit von Temperaturprofil, Konzentrationsverhältnis und Geometrie des aushärtenden Teils

Dr. Elena Moukhina, NETZSCH-Gerätebau GmbH

The final properties of the cured epoxy are strong dependent not on the temperature only, but on the mass ratio of the reacting components and the size of the curing part. 

The researchers usually study kinetics on the temperature only for the fixed concentration ratio and for the small amount of material.  However, the resulting kinetic model can help to make prediction of this process for the given concentration ratio only. 

The current work, firstly, makes the common kinetic model of the DSC data measured for the curing process at the different temperature conditions and different initial concentrations of the reacting components, like epoxy and amine. It can help to find the optimal ratio of the reactants, in order to avoid excess of any component. 

Additionally, this model can be used for the simulation of the curing behavior of the material in the volumes having temperature gradients and non-unform degree of cure.  

Such optimization and simulation are very important in the electronics, packaging, composite materials, in automotive and airspace industries.