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Curing of compression molded sheet molding compound
Author(s) -
Lee Ly James
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760210808
Subject(s) - materials science , sheet moulding compound , curing (chemistry) , composite material , isothermal process , transfer molding , differential scanning calorimetry , compression molding , copolymer , polymerization , styrene , mold , polymer chemistry , thermodynamics , polymer , physics
Abstract A recently developed kinetic model has been applied here to describe the polyester‐styrene addition copolymerization. By assuming that the termination step is negligible and the reaction rate between inhibitor and initiator free radical is much, faster than any other reactions, the kinetic mechanism can be simplified to be expressed as a single equation. The parameters, rate constant of initiator decomposition and rate constant of propagation, are estimated from the induction time and the time to the peak exotherm of isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves. Temperature profiles inside plate sections of SMC parts during molding are predicted by a mathematical model in which addition polymerization is coupled with heat transfer. The predicted temperature profiles compare well with the experimental results. The model is also used to predict the cure time of different part thicknesses, mold temperature and initiator concentration. Glass fibers playa role as a heat sink as well as heat conductor during curing. Adding glass fibers to SMC not only lowered the maximum exotherm but also reduced the cure time.