THE EFFECT OF THERMAL PARAMETERS ON THE CURE OF A BULK MOLDING COMPOSITE WITH POLYESTER

Because composites made of polyester are transformed into three dimens ional solid materials during the irreversible cure reaction, a good kn owledge of this process is advantageous. The effect of the thermal par ameters such as the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the resi n on the process are of great interest. Heat capacity plays an importa nt role because it influences both the heat transferred by conduction and the heat evolved by the cure reaction. Thermal conductivity influe nces heat conduction alone, and thus is less important. The kinetics o f the heat generated by the cure reaction were determined by calorimet ry in scanning mode. The study was carried out using a thin sheet of c omposite heated into the slabs of a mould, with a one-dimensional heat transfer. A numerical model that had been previously tested, provided the precise effect of each parameter on the process.