Effect of Sizing and Loading Levels on the Cure Kinetics of Carbon Fiber Vinylester Composites

Abstract

The cure behavior of elastomer modified, reactive vinylester resin based carbon fiber reinforced composites is characterized through the use of DSC analysis. It is shown that both fiber loading level and percentage of sizing used on the fiber have a significant effect on factors such as cure rate, degree of cure, time to maximum cure rate, rate constant and exponent of the auto-catalytic equation. Increases in sizing levels are shown to result in changes of cure rates and peak temperatures resulting from possible changes in curing mechanisms in the vinylester system under consideration. The effects have special significance as related to the use of carbon-vinylester composites for the fabrication of large scale primary structural components through processes such as RTM, Resin Infusion and Pultrusion.

Keywords

vinylester carbon fibers cure kinetics autocatalytic reaction initiator acceleration

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. T. J. Tulig and M. T. Tirrell , Macromolecules, 14 (1981), 1501.

2. V. M. Karbhari and G. R. Palmese , J. Materials Science, 32 (1997), 5761.

3. G. L. Batch and C. W. Macosko , J. Appl. Polymer Science, 44 (1992), 1711.

4. A. Yousefi , P. G. Lafleur and R. Gauvin , Polymer Composites, 18 [2] (1997), 157.

5. M. E. Ryan and A. Dutta , Polymer, 20 (1979), 203.

6. H. Kubota , J. Applied Polymer Science, 24 (1979), 2279.

7. A. Dutta and M. E. Ryan , J. Applied Polymer Science, 24 (1979), 635.

8. J. C. Lucas , J. Borrajo and R. J. J. Williams , Polymer, 34 (1993), 1886.

9. H. Ng and I. Manas-Zloczower , Polymer Engineering Science, 29 (1989), 302.

10.

10. E. P. Plueddeman , Silane Coupling Agents, Plenum Press, New York (1982).

11.

11. G. R. Palmese and R. L. McCullough , J. of Adhesion, 44 (1994), 29.

12.

12. T. P. Skourlis and R. L. McCullough , Composites Science and Technology, 49 (1993), 363.

13.

13. L-G. Tang and J. L. Kardos , Polymer Composites, 18 [1] (1997), 100.

14.

14. P. W. K. Lam , Polymer Composites, 8 [6] (1987), 427.

15.

15. M. R. Kamal and S. Sourour , Polymer Engineering Science, 13 (1973), 59.

16.

16. G. R. Palmese and V. M. Karbhari , Polymer Composites, 16 [4] (1995), 313.