Isothermal and temperature programmed kinetic studies of thermosets

Abstract

Abstract Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is a popular method for the characterization of the cure kinetics of thermosetting materials. The experiments may be carried out under isothermal or temperature program modes. Several authors have pointed out the fact that the kinetic rate expressions for non‐isothermal experiments must be different from the isothermal ones; however, this fact has been neglected in practice. In this work, we present a kinetic characterization of a thermosetting system using a phenomenological model for the reaction rate expression and DSC data from isothermal and non‐isothermal experiments. In general, thermosetting materials exhibit the vitrification phenomenon which stops the reaction before complete conversion is achieved. Vitrification is taken into account in both Isothermal and temperature programmed experiments.