Kinetic parameters estimation for unsaturated polyester-styrene systems

A model modified from the traditional kinetic model is proposed for the det ermination of the kinetic parameters describing the autocatalytic reaction of polyesterstyrene systems. The proposed method utilizes three experimenta l data values from the d alpha/dt vs. alpha curve-the initial value, the pe ak value, and the maximum value-to solve the kinetic parameters. The curing reaction of a thermosetting polyester was investigated by using the isothe rmal and dynamic techniques of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that the reaction orders m, n and the ultimate conversion are not constant, and instead are functions of temperature. The estimated kine tic curves agree well with the experimental DSC data.