Parameter estimation of epoxy resin cure kinetics by dynamics DSC data

Abstract

This study focused on determining the curing kinetic parameters of amine‐epoxy resin by performing dynamic DSC tests. The Kissinger and Crane equations were used to determine the activation energy, the pre‐exponential factor, and the reaction order as kinetic parameters for curing. The Ozawa equation was also used to determine the activation energy that changes at different levels of cure during the reaction. The average activation energy obtained by the Ozawa method was compared with the Kissinger activation energy. In addition, the T‐β extrapolation method was used to determine the optimum curing temperature. The kinetic parameters obtained from the Kissinger and Crane equations were used in the nth‐order kinetic model to predict the degree of cure at a given time and temperature. The linear regression fitting method was used in Minitab software to determine the curing parameters. The results were evaluated based on the fitting parameters. This study provides a theoretical basis for the curing mechanisms of epoxy matrix fiber composites used in the manufacture of wind turbine blades.