A variable reaction order model for prediction of curing kinetics of thermosetting polymers

Based on the study of the curing reaction of an fluorinated aliphatic cyanate ester resin using an isothermal Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) method, a new kinetics model with variable reaction order was proposed to describe the curing of thermosetting resins in both the chemical controlled and diffusion controlled regions. α–Tg relationship was used to calculate the diffusion controlled reaction rate constant during cure. Then the chemical and diffusion rate constants were combined in the Simon–Gillham equation to model the overall rate constant for the entire reaction. By using the overall rate constant combined with the variable reaction order, a simple model can be built up for prediction of curing kinetics of thermosetting polymer in both the chemical and the diffusion controlled regions. The new model is simple, easy to use and has very good agreement with the experimental results.