Cure kinetics and viscosity modelling of a high-performance epoxy resin film

The cure kinetics and rheology of an amine-cured TGMDA resin film, M18-1 (Hexcel, France), has been characterised in order to predict the viscosity behaviour under resin film infusion (RFI) process conditions. The kinetic and theological parameters were experimentally determined using DSC analysis and rheometry. An autocatalytic model was applied to describe the rate of cure accounting for diffusion controlled kinetics at the final cure stage. Further, a chemo-rheological resin model was employed to effectively predict the resin viscosity under non-isothermal and stepped cure cycle conditions, as applied in the RFI process. A preliminary analysis on the effect of fast curing methods on the resin viscosity suggests improved impregnation properties with high temperature ramp rates. (c) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.