Development of a mathematical model for the pultrusion of unsaturated polyester resin

Abstract

Abstract A mathematical model is developed for simulating the pultrusion process of unsaturated polyester resin, using a mechanistic kinetic model based on free radical polymerization. In their previous publications ( Refs. 1 and 7 ), Han and Lee used the mechanistic model to simulate the curing behavior of unsaturated polyester resins under isothermal conditions, employing the differential scanning calorimetry data obtained for a range of single initiators and multiple initiator systems. For the sake of mathematical convenience, a pultrusion die of cylindrical geometry was considered. The mathematical model developed permits one to choose any number of initiators when predicting the distributions of the degree of cure and temperature in both the radial and axial directions of the die. The effects of material variables (e.g., the type and concentration of mixed initiators) and processing conditions (e.g., pulling speed and die temperature distribution) on the performance of the pultrusion are evaluated.