Study of the curing process giving the rigid polyurethane foam by dynamic viscoelastic method

Abstract

AbstractDynamic viscoelastic properties of the rigid polyurethane foam, which is used in Japan as a thermal insulator for refrigerators were studied during the curing process using the RDS‐7700 Dynamic Spectrometer. The curing process, in which large volume expansion and heat evolution occurred, was easily analyzed by this method. The apparent storage modulus (G′app), the apparent loss modulus (G″app), and the apparent loss tangent (tan δapp) were measured as a function of cure time. The effects of the curing temperature and the amine catalyst on the curing process were investigated. It was found that the curing process proceeded through three stages: logarithm of G″app (log G″app) increased with increasing cure time in the first stage, log G″app increased with increasing logarithm of cure time in the second, and the change of G″app cannot be expressed simply in the final. Curing behavior can be estimated from changes of rheological parameters during the curing. The fluidity of reaction mixture can be also predicted from the peak time of tan δapp.