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Kinetic Analysis and Characterization of Epoxy Resins ... - FedOA

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Chapter 3<br />

Results <strong>and</strong> Discussion<br />

The objective <strong>of</strong> the work reported here is to study an alternative curing process<br />

<strong>of</strong> epoxy systems based on microwave dielectric heating. The possible advantages<br />

<strong>of</strong> this crosslinking mechanism, in comparison with thermally activated process,<br />

have been investigated through the following techniques:<br />

• <strong>Kinetic</strong> analysis;<br />

• Final properties characterization.<br />

The kinetic analysis <strong>of</strong> the epoxy resin is important both for a better underst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />

<strong>of</strong> structure-property relationships <strong>and</strong> for optimizing the processing<br />

conditions. In fact the physical <strong>and</strong> mechanical properties <strong>of</strong> the system largely<br />

depend upon the extent <strong>of</strong> cure, while their processability is dependent on the rate<br />

<strong>of</strong> polymerization.<br />

While the characterization <strong>of</strong> the final properties enables a direct comparison<br />

<strong>of</strong> the efficiency <strong>of</strong> the microwave versus conventional curing process.<br />

In this chapter the experimental results <strong>and</strong> analysis <strong>and</strong> elaboration <strong>of</strong> the<br />

data will be presented. The first section is dedicated to calorimetric characterization<br />

<strong>of</strong> the epoxy system conventionally <strong>and</strong> microwave cured. The second section<br />

93

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