Modeling the Evolution of the Dynamic Mechanical Properties of a Commercial Epoxy During Cure After Gelation

Published

April 1, 2000

Author(s)

S L. Simon, G B. McKenna, O Sindt

Abstract

A model for the evolution of the viscoelastic properties of thermosetting polymers during cure has been developed based on the concepts of time-temperature and time-conversion (degree of cure) superposition. In addition, the evolution of the plateau modulus during cure is incorporated into the model using a simple rubber elasticity model. Model parameters were obtained from time-temperature superposition of viscoelastic data for a fully cured material. Time-conversion superposition was assumed to hold and the relevant shift factors were obtined from the observed shift in the glass transition temperature with conversion. Calculations from the model were compared with experimental data for the change in the storage modulus with time during isothermal cure. Reasonable agreement between the model and the experimental data is obtained. To our knowledge this is the first time that the combined notions of time-temperature superposition and time-conversion superposition have been used to model epoxy cure.

Citation

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Volume

76

Issue

No. 4

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

cross-linking, epoxy, glass transition, thermoset, time-conversion superposition, time-temperature superposition, viscoelasticity

Citation

Simon, S. , McKenna, G. and Sindt, O. (2000), Modeling the Evolution of the Dynamic Mechanical Properties of a Commercial Epoxy During Cure After Gelation, Journal of Applied Polymer Science (Accessed May 4, 2025)