Kinetic and rheological relationships of dicyanate ester polycondensation for the resin transfer molding process

Kinetic and rheological behavior of a liquid dicyanate ester catalyzed by a copper salt was studied with a view to controlling the RTM process. The kinetics are satisfactorily modeled with a simple second order model until vitrification occurs. independent of the catalyst concentration, the relationship between glass transition temperature T-g and conversion x was well validated, indicating that vitrification occurs well before T-g(x) reaches the curing temperature. The rheological study allowed gelation (tan delta crossover) and vitrification times at different curing temperatures to be determined. The values of tans at gel point were found to be slightly higher than those usually found. In order to carry out a simulation of the RTM process, viscosity and conversion were also linked with an empirical model.