Cure studies on bifunctional epoxy matrices using a domestic microwave oven

Three types of bifunctional epoxy–amine matrix systems (two room temperature (RT) cure types and one elevated temperature (ET) cure type), used for aerospace composite applications, were cured in a domestic microwave oven. Microwave cure schedules equivalent to vendor-specified thermal cure schedule...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPolymer testing Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 645 - 652
Main Authors Rao, Sandhya, Rao, RMVGK
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Kindlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2008
Elsevier
Subjects
Applied sciences
Bifunctional
Chemical properties
Domestic
Epoxy resin
Exact sciences and technology
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Properties and testing
Pulsed microwave curing
Technology of polymers
Pulsed microwave curing
Epoxy resin
Bifunctional
Domestic
Diamine
Processing parameter
Kinetics
Microwave heating
Curing (plastics)
Experimental study
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Summary:Three types of bifunctional epoxy–amine matrix systems (two room temperature (RT) cure types and one elevated temperature (ET) cure type), used for aerospace composite applications, were cured in a domestic microwave oven. Microwave cure schedules equivalent to vendor-specified thermal cure schedules were evolved for each resin system, using the glass transition temperature ( T g) as the index of cure completion. Both continuous and pulsed microwave heating modes were employed. The cure status and cure uniformity were assessed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal imaging techniques. The studies showed that pulsed microwave-heated samples exhibited greater degree and uniformity of cure (both in terms of temperature attained and the T g shown across the samples), compared to the continuous microwave-heated samples for all the resin systems studied.
ISSN:0142-9418
1873-2348
DOI:10.1016/j.polymertesting.2008.04.005