Analysis of the thickening reaction of a sheet molding compound resin through the use of dynamic mechanical testing

Abstract The change in viscoelastic response of an unsaturated polyester during the course of thickening with magnesium oxide was evaluated, Rheological measurements were obtained to describe the effects of thickening as functions of time and magnesium oxide concentration. Previous researchers have made similar evaluations utilizing Brookfield viscosities. However, the test geometry asociated with a Brookfield T‐bar spindle is not well defined and data interpretation is consequently obscured. A Rheometrics Thermal Mechanical Spectrometer was used to obtain dynamic mechanical measurements ranging across three decades of frequency. Values of the elastic shear modulus, G′, the viscous shear modulus, G″, and the complex viscosity, η*, were calculated.