Predicting the cure of thermosetting polymers: The isoconversion map

Abstract The modeling of the cure kinetics is widely used to predict the progress of the chemical reaction during processing of thermosetting resins. In this study, a new technique named the “Isoconversion Map” is proposed to predict thermoset curing from a series of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. On the basis of the isoconversion methodology, it is possible to devise a model‐free technique to predict resin conversion for a given temperature profile. In this work, the cure kinetics of an epoxy resin has been measured by dynamic DSC tests to construct the proposed “isoconversion map.” The evolution of the resin cure for a given temperature profile has been determined by applying the proposed approach and then compared with the predictions of common cure kinetics models. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers