POLYMERS

Curing of an Epoxy Resin

Analysis and optimization of thermosets can easily be carried out using differential scanning calorimetry. 

Presented here is the DSC 3500 Sirius measurement on an epoxy resin.
The ExothermicA sample transition or a reaction is exothermic if heat is generated.exothermic peak detected at 135.5°C (peak temperature) during the 1st heating is caused by Curing (Crosslinking Reactions)Literally translated, the term “crosslinking“ means “cross networking”. In the chemical context, it is used for reactions in which molecules are linked together by introducing covalent bonds and forming three-dimensional networks.curing of the sample. After this first heating up to 200°C, the epoxy resin is completely cured. The Glass Transition TemperatureThe glass transition is one of the most important properties of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials, e.g., inorganic glasses, amorphous metals, polymers, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, etc., and describes the temperature region where the mechanical properties of the materials change from hard and brittle to more soft, deformable or rubbery.glass transition of the cured sample can be determined by means of a second heating: it was detected at 115.0°C (midpoint).