Cross-linked Resin Research Articles

A 3D modeling of the effect of layup orientation on the thickness uniformity of cured composite L-shaped laminates

This paper presents a three-dimensional modeling approach for the curing process of polymer-matrix composites (PMCs). The presented model could fully characterize the heat transfer, exothermic reactions in resin crosslinking, material time-varying properties, resin flow, and fiber compaction during the curing process. The predicted non-uniform distribution of thickness of the L-shaped composite laminate samples coincides well with experimental results. It is observed that the three-dimensional model, compared to the two-dimensional model, better captures the solidification in complex structural regions, such as the R-corner and the thickness variation region. By comparing the residual stress, fiber volume fraction, and non-uniform thickness of the laminate samples with different layup orientations, the experimental and computational results both show that the corner region of [90]20 laminate is thinner than other regions, with a higher fiber volume fraction. This is attributed to the mismatch of reactive stresses between the tool side and bag side, primarily compressive radial stress. In contrast, the corner region of the [0]20 laminate is thicker than other regions, with a lower fiber volume fraction. This difference is mainly due to the mismatch of radial stresses, hindrance caused by compressive hoop stresses in the compaction process, and potential wrinkling of hoop fibers due to interlaminar shear constraints.

Reactive carbon dots/polysiloxane composites cross-linked silicone resin adhesives for stable white LED constructing

Current high-performance commercial white LEDs typically rely on Ce:Y3Al5O12 (Ce:YAG) phosphors and their dispersed encapsulating material. However, Ce:YAG often has large particle sizes and does not react with the encapsulating material, causing stratification and sedimentation. To address this problem, a novel reactive carbon dots/polysiloxane (R-CDs/PS) composite was synthesized through a one-step solvothermal process involving citric acid, urea, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS). The composite exhibits yellow emission at 528 nm under UV excitation and has a particle size of approximately 150 nm. To improve integration, vinyl adhesive (vinyl AD) and vinyl MDQ resin were designed and synthesized to enhance adhesion and mechanical strength. When dispersed in silicone resin adhesives (SRAs), R-CDs/PS composite forms a stable color conversion layer, avoiding stratification due to its nanoscale size and chemical cross-linking with SRAs. White LEDs can be easily produced by casting R-CDs/PS composites and SRAs onto LED chips, followed by high-temperature curing. These LEDs exhibit desirable optical properties, including CIE coordinates of (0.33, 0.34), a CRI of 82.2, and a CCT of 5355 K, making them suitable for indoor lighting. This study not only introduces a practical approach for fabricating fluorescent and encapsulating materials but also offers a valuable strategy for improving the stability of white LEDs.

Towards Photothermal Acid Catalysts Using Eco-Sustainable Sulfonated Carbon Nanoparticles—Part II: Thermal and Photothermal Catalysis of Biodiesel Synthesis

The main goal of this work is to evaluate the ability of sulfonated carbon nanoparticles (SCNs) to induce photothermal catalysis of the biodiesel synthesis reaction (transesterification of natural triglycerides (TGs) with alcohols). Carbon nanoparticles (CNs) are produced by the carbonization of cross-linked resin nanoparticles (RNs). The RNs are produced by condensation of a phenol (resorcinol or natural tannin) with formaldehyde under ammonia catalysis (Stober method). The method produces nanoparticles, which are carbonized into carbon nanoparticles (CNs). The illumination of CNs increases the temperature proportionally (linear) to the nanoparticle concentration and exposure time (with saturation). Solid acid catalysts are made by heating in concentrated sulfuric acid (SEAr sulfonation). The application of either light or a catalyst (SCNs) (at 25 °C) induced low conversions (<10%) for the esterification reaction of acetic acid with bioethanol. In contrast, the illumination of the reaction medium containing SCNs induced high conversions (>75%). In the case of biodiesel synthesis (transesterification of sunflower oil with bioethanol), conversions greater than 40% were observed only when light and the catalyst (SCNs) were applied simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible to use sulfonated carbon nanoparticles as photothermally activated catalysts for Fischer esterification and triglyceride transesterification (biodiesel synthesis).

Highly crosslinked resin prepares hard carbon anode for enhanced sodium storage performance and reduced cost

Resins have shown significant potential as a precursor for hard carbons (HCs) in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high purity and adjustability. However, the high cost and low Na+ storage capacity limit their industrialization. Herein, the highly crosslinked resin is developed by linear phenolic resin crosslinking with inexpensive hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) via the C-N and methylene bridges between phenolic rings, which can effectively reduce the resin consumption ratio by over 44% per unit mass and regulate the sodium storage performance of the prepared HC with a high reversible capacity of 323.9 mAh g-1 and an initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 90.7% at 15 mA g−1, where a high plateau capacity of 286.8 mAh g-1 is proved to be a coupled storage mechanism of intercalation and pore-filling behavior. Meanwhile, defects associated with hydrogen content, rather than nitrogen defects, are verified to be directly linked to slope capacity. Furthermore, the 18650 cylindrical-type batteries assembled with this HC anode coupled with NaFe1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode achieve a high energy density of about 280.9 Wh kg−1 and excellent capacity retention of 86.4% over 2500 cycles, providing a promising prospect for the practical application of the resin-based HC for SIBs.

Solvent-free preparation of carbon fiber reinforced dynamically cross-linked vanillin-based polyurethane composites with excellent self-healing and closed-loop recycling performance

Disposing of the wastes generated from the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite materials after service failure has attracted great attention in recent years. CFRP composites prepared with dynamically covalent cross-linking polymers as matrix resins possess excellent self-healing and recyclability performance, providing an efficient solution to overcome this challenge. However, most of the dynamic cross-linking resins are typically made by high-cost petroleum-derived compounds with extensive use of organic solvents and environmentally unfriendly catalysts. Herein, catalyst-free self-healing and recyclable vanillin-based polyurethanes (V-PUs) via dynamic phenol-carbamate bonds were synthesized by a one-step solvent-free method with a biodegradable PCL as soft segment and biobased vanillin derivative as the chain extender. The optimized V-PUs exhibit Young's modulus of 1.92 GPa, stress at break of 64.98 MPa, glass transition temperature of 95 °C, and over 90 % self-healing and reprocessing efficiency. This excellent self-healing and reprocessing performance can be successfully transferred to the CFRP composite materials fabricated with the V-PUs as matrix resins by hand paste-vacuum bag pressing method. The interlayer shear strength (ILSS) of the composite material is 41 MPa, and the healing efficiency determined by ILSS reaches 85.34 %. Closed-loop recovery of the carbon fiber and matrix resin from the CFRP composite is realized through the solvent dissolution approach due to the dynamic character of the phenol-carbamate bonds, which is of great significance for the development of green economy and sustainable society.

A bio-based low dielectric polymer at high frequency derived from paeonol

A fluorinated monomer with crosslinkable benzocyclobutene groups has been successfully synthesized starting from bio-based paeonol through the Suzuki and Grignard reaction. Treating this monomer at high temperature forms a cross-linked resin (cured PFB), which exhibits high glass transition temperature (Tg) of 439 °C, low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 87.4 ppm/°C, low dielectric constant (Dk) of 2.62, and low dielectric loss (Df) of 8.45 × 10-4 at a frequency of 10 GHz. In particular, cured PFB displays low water uptake of 0.1% even immersing it in boiling water for 96 h. These results demonstrate that the fluorinated bio-based monomer is a suitable precursor for the preparation of the low-dielectric packaging materials used in the microelectronic industry. Especially, this contribution provides a new way for the conversion of bio-based paeonol into the high-performance materials.

Crosslinking Vinyl-Addition Polynorbornenes via Difunctional Diazirines to Generate Low Dielectric-Constant and Low Dielectric-Loss Thermosets.

Thermosets having low dielectric constant (Dk < 3) and low dielectric dissipation factor (Df < 0.003), high glass transition temperature (Tg > 150 °C), and good adhesion to copper are desirable for the low loss layers of the copper clad laminates (CCL) in next generation printed circuit boards. Three different difunctional diazirines are evaluated for both thermal and photochemical crosslinking of a high Tg vinyl-addition polynorbornene resin: poly(5-hexyl-1-norbornene) (poly(HNB)). The substrate polymer, crosslinked by the carbenes generated from the activated diazirines, forms thermosets with Dk < 2.3 and Df < 0.001 at 10GHz depending on the identity of the diazirine and the loading. The Dk and Df values for one composition are stable for 1600h at 125 °C in air and for 1400h at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity, suggesting good long-term reliability of this thermoset. Adhesion of poly(HNB) to copper can be enhanced by priming the copper surface with a diazirine prior to high temperature lamination; peel strength values of greater than 7.5 N cm-1 are achieved. Negative-tone photopatterning of poly(HNB) with diazirines upon exposure to 365nm light is demonstrated.

Synthesis of a water‐soluble high hydroxymethyl content phenolic resin crosslinker and the associated polyacrylamide weak gel property investigation

AbstractAs an in‐depth profile control agent, water‐soluble phenolic resin crosslinking polyacrylamide weak gel has been widely used in the middle and high water cut stage of water flooding reservoir. In this study, the phenolic resin was synthesized by two‐step alkali catalysis. Factors influencing the synthesis of phenolic resin, including the molar ratio of phenol and formaldehyde, catalyst types, reaction time, were investigated with hydroxylmethyl and aldehyde content as the criterion. When the molar ratio of phenolic resin was 1:2 and NaOH was catalyst, at 80°C for 4 h, the phenolic resin had the highest hydroxymethyl content (49.37%) and the lowest free aldehyde content (2.95%). Weak gel was formed by the reaction of LT002‐polyacrylamide with phenolic resin. Taking the gelation time and strength as criteria, the factors influencing the crosslinking property, including hydroxymethyl content, crosslinker addition, and polyacrylamide concentration were investigated respectively. Under optimal formulation, the property investigation shows that the hydroxymethyl group in the phenolic resin can be crosslinked with the amide group in polyacrylamide, the gelation time is long (50–60 h), and the gelation strength is larger than 5 × 104 mPa s, which is conductive to the plugging of deep oil layers. When the permeability was 5061 × 10−3 μm2, the plugging rate was 72.73%.

Size Effect of Graphite Nanosheet-Induced Anti-Corrosion of Hydrophobic Epoxy Coatings

In order to broaden the selectivity of graphite nanosheet additives on epoxy resin-based coatings and verify the size effect, this work aims to dope graphite nanosheets of different sizes into the three-dimensional structure produced by cross-linking and curing epoxy resin and polyamide resin. In addition, a micro-nano level secondary structure and a surface with special roughness are constructed to obtain the composite epoxy hydrophobic coating. The influence of the size effect of graphite nanosheets on the hydrophobic performance and corrosion resistance of the coating is summarized as well. Among them, the optimized doping size (2.2 μm) of graphite nanosheets in the epoxy coating showed the largest impedance arc of 2.58 × 108 Ω cm2, which could form an excellent nano-network covering the micropores to impede the diffusion of corrosive medium. Through simulation calculation analysis, we also found that the edge site of graphene is more effective in capturing H2O and O2; therefore, a smaller size of graphene with a large edge can be more favorable. This work will be used as a reference for the industrial application of graphite anti-corrosive coating.

Dicyanamide ionic liquid mixtures for curing and modifying flax-fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites

Epoxy composites reinforced with natural fibers are a research area that has been growing tremendously in recent years, with increasing reports providing a better understanding of the interactions within such structures, resulting in newer and more specialized applications. This article presents a comprehensive study on the design and application of ionic liquids (ILs) in the development of flax fiber-reinforced epoxy composites with tailored mechanical properties. Three distinct ILs, namely 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide [HMIM][DCA], 1-hexyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-ium dicyanamide [DABCO-C6][DCA], and trimethyloctadecylammonium dicyanamide [N11118][DCA], were strategically engineered to incorporate longer carbon chains, with the primary objective of influencing the mechanical parameters of the resulting composites, specifically aiming for enhanced flexibility and resistance to bending and stretching. Using these designed ILs, two mixtures were developed and crafted to facilitate the effective curing of epoxy resin, which was examined using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Investigation of the resin crosslinking process revealed that the mixtures of ILs exhibited a lower total enthalpy of thermal conversion than single-IL systems. Moreover, shifts in the polymerization onset temperatures were observed for the mixtures, with some systems displaying dual temperature peaks during crosslinking, indicative of potential parallel polymerization reactions.

Controlling the curing process of novolac phenolic resin during preparation of carbon molecular sieve membrane for propylene/propane separation

A carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane was prepared for propylene/propane separation using a phenolic resin as a cost-effective polymer precursor. However, to achieve a desirable separation performance, the pre-treatment process of phenolic resin should be affordably carried out. In this study, novolac phenolic resin was cured with hexamine as a curing agent. The curing conditions were varied in terms of the curing time and concentration of the curing agent, both of which led to a higher degree of crosslinking of the phenolic resin, resulting in improved thermal stability. The propylene/propane separation factor of 6.33 for the CMS membrane derived from the phenolic resin cured for 1 h increased to 18.5 when the curing time was 4 h, whereas the propylene permeance decreased from 153 to 53.5 GPU. A similar trend was observed for higher concentrations of the curing agent. Moreover, the long-term stability of the CMS membrane was significantly improved after prolonged curing with a higher concentration of the curing agent. The CMS membranes derived from cured phenolic resins possess more selective carbon structures and better structural stabilities.

Applicability Evaluation of Modified Epoxy Resin in the Repair and Reinforcement of Ancient Building Timber Members

To investigate the potential of modified epoxy resin for repairing and strengthening historical wooden structures, this study utilized polyurethane and silicone-modified epoxy resin as the base, alongside a polyamine curing agent. The resin mixture was cured at ambient temperature, resulting in the creation of ten unique epoxy resin systems. Investigation into the chemical structure and alterations to the glass transition temperature were conducted. The study conducted tests and characterization of viscosity, curing rate, mechanical properties, stress failure mode, hygrothermal aging resistance, and bonding properties. The results reveal that the curing degree of the two modified epoxy resins is high after being cured at room temperature, and the chemical structure and curing rate show insignificant changes. The range of the glass transition temperature for the modified epoxy resin is between 61.31 °C and 70.51 °C. The incorporation of polyurethane and silicone molecular chains into the epoxy resin cross-linking curing system enhances the toughness of the epoxy resin. The modified resin achieves a maximum elongation at break that is 5.18 times greater than that of the unmodified resin, along with a maximum tensile strength and a compressive strength that are 7.94 and 1.74 times, respectively, higher than those in the Chinese technical specifications for the maintenance and reinforcement of ancient wooden structures. The increase in toughness changes the failure mode of the cured epoxy resin. The modified epoxy resin exhibits great bonding ability to aged wood, with a shear strength of up to 9.6 MPa along the grain. As a result, the modified epoxy resin meets the requirements for the reinforcement and repair of the timber members of ancient buildings.

Nanosized curing catalyst via nano-templated plasma PVD for attaining superior low-cure powder coating films

The addition of curing catalysts into powder coating is a key method to fabricate low-temperature curing powder coating for reducing energy consumption and expanding its applications to heat-sensitive substrates. However, the heterogeneous dispersion of the unmodified catalysts in powder coatings results in inconsistent catalysis of resin crosslinking, thus leading to compromised surface smoothness and gloss. Utilizing nanosized catalysts is an efficient solution to such problems. In this paper, we propose a nano-templated dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition (PVD) strategy to fabricate the nanosized catalysts. The curing catalyst, 2-ethylimidazole (2-elm), is successfully vaporized and deposited on nano-carrier SiO2 (SiO2-NPs) in the DBD plasma reactor at atmospheric pressure, producing 2-elm@SiO2-NPs. The mechanical strength and chemical resistance of finishes of powder coating incorporated with the 2-elm@SiO2-NPs remained at low curing temperature (170 °C for 15 min) and fast curing condition (190 °C for 8 min). In addition, their surface qualities are comparable to that of the original powder coating, with up to 100 % gloss retention, successfully eliminating the issue of more than 25 % gloss attenuation of the powder coating with unmodified 2-elm. This study provides an effective, solvent-free strategy for fabricating nanosized curing catalysts and achieving high-quality film finishes.

Syntheses of diphenolic resin based anti-corrosion coating material and reinforce its performance through MWCNT-Ag and MWCNT-Ag/PANI nanofillers

In the present work, a novel anti-corrosion coating material was developed using diphenolic resin and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) based nanofillers. In this concern, phenylmethylene diphenolic resin (PMD) and its 2-(4-methylbenzyl) oxirane derivative (PMDD) were synthesized using phenol and benzaldehyde. Silver-decorated MWCNT (MWCNT-Ag) and polyaniline (PANI) synthesized on MWCNT-Ag (MWCNT-Ag/PANI) were also fabricated and employed as filler materials to enhance the anti-corrosion performance of PMDD. The resins were analyzed by LC-MS and FT-IR, and the nanofillers were characterized using XRD, SAED, EDX, TEM, and XPS techniques. The synthesized PMD and PMDD and different weight percentages of fillers blended PMDD were coated on the mild steel (MS) sample using doctor blade method. The surface morphology and roughness of the coatings were examined by SEM and AFM analyses. The anti-corrosion ability of the coated samples was assessed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and salt spray testing (SST). All the results showed an excellent anti-corrosion performance of PMDD by the incorporation of 0.2 wt% of MWCNT-Ag/PANI. Withstanding the 5 wt% NaCl salt spray atmosphere for about 144 h and >460 days in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution reflects its strong barrier property and long-term durability. The cross-linking of resins, blockade of defects by nanofiller and an additional protective layer developed by conductive PANI make the coating material efficient and durable in highly corrosion environments.

Luminescent Perovskite-Cross-Linked Polymer with Low Shrinkage and Excellent Stability.

When organic cross-linked polymers are combined with metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) for realizing luminescent perovskite-polymer display materials, the stability of PNCs is enhanced and their shrinkage is suppressed. This work presents a feasible strategy for preparing CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs) within a polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) thermosetting cross-linked resin matrix simultaneously via a one-step reaction. The obtained PDCPD@PNCs composite exhibits narrow peak half-widths (15-20 nm), high light transmittance (80%), low curing volume shrinkage (1.4%), tunable tensile properties, excellent stability, and a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 44.3%. The composite material exhibits long-term stability in water, acid, and base solutions for over 90 days, with the PL intensity being maintained at over 90%. Furthermore, the composite is highly resistant to polar organic solvents owing to the insolubility imparted by cross-linking. White LEDs (WLED) fabricated using the as-prepared composite demonstrate excellent potential as light sources in optical devices.

Modulating the graphitic domains of hard carbons via tuning resin crosslinking degree to achieve high rate and stable sodium storage

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are regarded as an outstanding alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to abundant sodium sources and their similar chemistry. As a most promising anode of SIBs, hard carbons (HCs) receive extensive attention because of their low potential and low cost, but their rational design for commercial SIBs is restricted by their variable and complicated microstructure, which is analogous to that of graphite in LIBs. Herein, a series of controllable HC materials derived from 3-aminophenol formaldehyde resin (AFR) were designed and fabricated. We discover that the optimized HC features expanded graphite regions, highly developed nanopores, and reduced defect content, contributing to the enhanced Na+ storage. This optimization is achieved by adjusting the resin crosslinking degree of the precursor. Specifically, a resin precursor with a higher crosslinking degree can produce HC with a larger interlayer distance, relatively higher crystallinity, and a lower specific surface area. Encouragingly, the as-optimized AFR-HC electrode manifests superior electrochemical performance in the aspect of high capacity (383 mAh·g-1 at 0.05 A·g-1), better rate capability (140 mAh·g-1 at 20 A·g-1), and high initial coulombic efficiency (82%) than other contrast samples. Moreover, the as-constructed full cell coupled with a Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode shows an energy density of 250 Wh·kg-1. Together with the simple synthesis, cost-efficiency of the precursors and superior electrochemical performance, AFR-HCs are promising for the commercial application.

Effect of inorganic material surface chemistry on structures and fracture behaviours of epoxy resin

The mechanisms underlying the influence of the surface chemistry of inorganic materials on polymer structures and fracture behaviours near adhesive interfaces are not fully understood. This study demonstrates the first clear and direct evidence that molecular surface segregation and cross-linking of epoxy resin are driven by intermolecular forces at the inorganic surfaces alone, which can be linked directly to adhesive failure mechanisms. We prepare adhesive interfaces between epoxy resin and silicon substrates with varying surface chemistries (OH and H terminations) with a smoothness below 1 nm, which have different adhesive strengths by ~13 %. The epoxy resins within sub-nanometre distance from the surfaces with different chemistries exhibit distinct amine-to-epoxy ratios, cross-linked network structures, and adhesion energies. The OH- and H-terminated interfaces exhibit cohesive failure and interfacial delamination, respectively. The substrate surface chemistry impacts the cross-linked structures of the epoxy resins within several nanometres of the interfaces and the adsorption structures of molecules at the interfaces, which result in different fracture behaviours and adhesive strengths.

Impact of water absorption on the creep performance of epoxy/microcrystalline cellulose composites

AbstractRecently, considerable effort has been made to study cellulose/epoxy composites. However, there is a gap when it comes to understanding the post‐conditioning anomalous effect of moisture uptake on their mechanical and dynamic‐mechanical properties, and on their creep behavior. In this work, up to 10.0 wt% microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was incorporated into epoxy resin by simple mixing and sonication. Epoxy/MCC composites were fabricated by casting in rubber silicone molds, and rectangular and dog‐bone test specimens were produced. The moisture uptake, dynamic mechanical, chemical, tensile, and creep behavior were evaluated. The incorporation of MCC increased the water diffusion coefficient. The changes in storage modulus and glass transition temperature, combined with Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, evidenced that water sorption in epoxies causes both plasticization and additional resin crosslinking, although the latter is prevented by the addition of MCC. The creep strain of the composites increased by 60% after conditioning, indicating that plasticization induced by water sorption plays an important role in the long‐term properties of the composites.

Highly efficient and stable organic solar cells with SnO2 electron transport layer enabled by UV-curing acrylate oligomers

The interfaces between the inorganic metal oxide and organic photoactive layer are of outmost importance for efficiency and stability in organic solar cells (OSCs). Tin oxide (SnO2) is one of the promising candidates for the electron transport layer (ETL) in high-performance inverted OSCs. When a solution-processed SnO2 ETL is employed, however, the presence of interfacial defects and suboptimal interfacial contact can lower the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability of OSCs. Herein, highly efficient and stable inverted OSCs by modification of the SnO2 surface with ultraviolet (UV)-curable acrylate oligomers (SAR and OCS) are demonstrated. The highest PCEs of 16.6% and 17.0% are achieved in PM6:Y6-BO OSCs with the SAR and OCS, respectively, outperforming a device with a bare SnO2 ETL (PCE 13.8%). The remarkable enhancement of PCEs is attributed to the optimized interfacial contact, leading to mitigated surface defects. More strikingly, improved light-soaking and thermal stability strongly correlated with the interfacial defects are demonstrated for OSCs based on SnO2/UV cross-linked resins compared to OSCs utilizing bare SnO2. We believe that UV cross-linking oligomers will play a key role as interfacial modifiers in the future fabrication of large-area and flexible OSCs with high efficiency and stability.

Computational modeling and simulation of temperature field evolution during the chemical foaming of epoxy foams

AbstractThe evolution and control of the temperature field during the chemical foaming of epoxy resin are of paramount importance because the foam structure results from the competition of resin crosslinking and foaming, both of which are highly dependent on temperature distributions. Herein, the epoxy foams, consisting of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, glycidyl amine‐type epoxy resin, and 4,4′‐diamino diphenyl sulfone hardener, are prepared using azodicarbonamide and 4,4′‐oxydibenzenesulfonyl hydrazide as a chemical foaming agent (CFA). Kinetic models for heat release and CFA decomposition are established using the auto‐catalytic and n‐th order models, respectively. By integrating the transient flow of resin during the foaming process, numerical simulations of the temperature field evolution within the self‐expanding geometry are conducted to investigate the effects of foaming temperature, heat transfer coefficient, and mold diameter on spatial temperature distributions. A comparison of the kinetic parameters of epoxy curing and CFA decomposition at various foaming temperatures (433, 443, and 453 K) reveals that the acceleration of the curing rate is consistent with that of the decomposition rate as the foaming temperature increases, then the foam structure remains largely unchanged across different foaming temperatures. However, local overheating is unavoidable for the foams at 443 and 453 K. This study offers a method for optimizing the processing parameters in preparing epoxy foams.Highlights Auto‐catalytic model for predicting heat released rate is well established. The decomposition kinetics of the chemical foaming agent is described by n‐th model. Nonisothermal simulation is implemented to study the self‐expanded process of epoxy foam. The foam structure is predicted by comparing the kinetic between the curing and expansion processes.