CURE PROCESSING MODELING AND CURE CYCLE SIMULATION OF EPOXY-TERMINATED POLY(PHENYLENE ETHER KETONE) .4. CURE CYCLE SIMULATION

Epoxy-terminated poly(phenylene ether ketone) (E-PEK) developed in thi s Institute is a candidate matrix resin for polymer composites as stru ctural materials. Cure cycles for this reaction system were simulated according to the previously established processing model. It is found that for the E-PEK system, the curing process is best completed by a s tepwise cure cycle comprising two isothermal processes at different te mperatures, T-1 and T-2. The cure cycles over a wide range of processi ng parameters simulated, based on the established processing model, in dicate that the processing window is width-adjustable. Analysis of the mechanical properties of the composite sheets showed that the simulat ed cure cycles are acceptable and reliable. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons , Inc.