Kinetic influences on the processing-structure-property relationships of high-performance epoxy matrices and their composites

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5700808

Stark, E B

The research presented develops a fundamental understanding of the reaction kinetics of cure in epoxy resins and how they affect the rheological character of these resins and their carbon fiber reinforced composites. The well-characterized TGDDM-Novalac-DDS epoxy system was studied as a model system for comparison to commercial epoxy formulations, such as Hercules 3501-6. The determination of two reaction regimes was identified through the use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The first corresponds to a region of the cure consisting predominantly of the primary-amine addition reaction while the second continues with the homopolymerization and etherification reactions becoming more significant. The effects of various processing parameters on the cure kinetics were investigated, including heating rate, moisture, composition, and the addition of a second resin, Novalac. The structural influences of the reaction kinetics with respect to heating rate and the presence of Novalac were also addressed. Application of results of the kinetic analysis to describe the rheological behavior of the TGDDM-Novalac-DSS and Hercules 3501-6 resin systems and composites was performed, using parallel-plate and squeeze-flow viscosity techniques and various theoretical modeling approaches.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5700808
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360301* -- Composite Materials-- Preparation & Fabrication-- (-1987)
360303 -- Composite Materials-- Mechanical Properties-- (-1987)
CARBON FIBERS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CURING
EPOXIDES
FIBERS
KINETICS
MATERIALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
RHEOLOGY