Modeling the curing kinetics for a modified bismaleimide resin

The kinetics of curing for a modified bismaleimide (BMI) has been investiga ted to ascertain a suitable cure model for the material. The experimental d ata for characterizing the curing kinetics for a modified bismaleimide resi n were determined using a DSC isothermal scan method and indicated a curing mechanism involving multiple reactions. The reaction process was shown to be dominated by a different mechanism at different stages of the cure proce ss, with an initial autocatalytic reaction shifting into an nth order react ion as the reaction proceeded. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.