In-depth analysis of the mathematical model of polyester thermosets curing

Abstract

In many areas of chemical engineering applications we have to deal with thermosetting polymer structures. One of the major processing techniques for producing such structures is the curing process. This process may be accompanied by undesirable thermal spiking phenomena during which the released energy may be trapped inside the structure. In order to predict the onset of this phenomenon models that couple reaction kinetics and heat transfer are required. The numerical model was constructed by taking into account the heat transferred by conduction through the resin, as well as the kinetics of heat generated by the cure reaction. The contributions to the rise in temperature from heat conduction and chemical reactions are different in different parts of the composite, which can be explained by the temperature–time, or conversion-time histories. The temperatures were measured in the center of a cylindrically shaped mold. Initiator concentration varied from 0.5% to 2.0% of mass fraction throughout the experiments, which governed the reaction kinetics. Introduction of the carbon base filler reduced the amount of heat generated in the composite, and as a result lowered the temperatures of the resin. The analysis of parameter sensitivity and model simulation was performed with data obtained. A good agreement was observed between experimental data and the mathematical model of the curing process in the mold.