Research on curing kinetics of multiaxial warp‐knitted composites

Abstract In this paper, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to test the crosslinking reaction system between epoxy resin and curing agent, and the curing kinetic model of the resin system was established by means of phenomenal model. The optimal curing process was obtained based on DSC curve. The quadriaxial warp‐knitted composite specimens were prepared by vacuum‐assisted resin infusion (VARI). The effects of curing process on mechanism properties and failure mechanism of the composite specimens were studied experimentally. Results show that the cross‐linking reaction between epoxy resin and curing agent agrees with the autocatalytic reaction model and the curing kinetics model could be used to characterize the curing process of the matrix. The optimum curing process could be used to improve the interface properties between the matrix and the fiber, and the crack progress will be inhibited as the specimen bearing the external force, and the mechanical properties of the specimen is also improved significantly. Result could provide a theoretical basis for the study of curing kinetics of epoxy resin, the exploration of curing process of composite materials and improve the strength of composits.