Prediction of the curing behavior for unsaturated polyester–styrene systems used for monitoring sheet moulding compounds (SMC) process

An anisothermal kinetic model based on the radical polymerisation mechanisms was developed. The kinetic parameters were first obtained through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements with pure unsaturated polyester–styrene systems. In the second part of the work, the kinetic parameters were computed again with systems corresponding to sheet moulding compounds. Meaningful data were collected thanks to in situ temperature and electrical conductivity measurements. Thus, a kinetic model for sheet moulding compounds (SMC) curing based on the radical polymerisation mechanisms was developed. It can predict the effect of heterogeneities on curing rates in SMC materials and is also useful to simulate the influence of a change in formulation or curing conditions.