Evaluation of epoxy curing chemorheology by viscosity measurements and comparison with thermal analysis methods

• Grant number: 05/00520-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2005
• End date: January 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Yujiro Shigue
• Grantee: Mariane Martim Sobrosa Passos de Abreu
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química de Lorena (FAENQUIL). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epoxyde systems are commonly employed in polymer matrix composites fabrication used in electric equipments due to their high strength, high impact resistance and good dielectric properties. The composite final properties are dependent on the preparation procedures especially the resin cure scheme. Aiming to evaluate the cure kinetics during the early stages of gelation, wherein the viscosity is a very sensitive parameter of the cure degree (conversion degree, ), the chemorheology of curing of different kinds of epoxy systems will be studied under isothermal conversion using Brookfield viscosity measurements. The results will be compared with thermal analysis methods, namely the Differential Scanning Calorimetry – DSC and Dielectric Thermal Analysis – DETA. The results will be analyzed by the Williams-Landell-Ferry (WLF) model aiming to obtain an analytical equation to correlate the viscosity and the conversion degree. (AU)