The development of a mathematical model for the pultrusion of blocked polyurethane composites

Abstract

AbstractThe thermokinetic behavior of blocked polyurethane‐based composites during the pultrusion of glass‐fiber reinforced composites is investigated utilizing a mathematical model accounting for the heat transfer and the heat generation during curing. The equations of continuity and energy balance, coupled with a kinetic expression for the curing system, are solved using a finite difference method to calculate the temperature and conversion profiles in the thickness direction in a rectangular pultrusion die. A kinetic model, dP/ dt = A exp(−E/RT) (1−P)nPm, was proposed to describe the curing behavior of a blocked polyurethane resin. Kinetic parameters for the model were obtained from dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) scans using a multiple regression technique, which was able to predict the effects of processing variables on the pultrusion. The effects of process variables (e.g., pulling rate, die temperature, and die thickness) on the performance of the pultrusion are also evaluated. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.