A nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry study of the curing kinetics of an unsaturated polyester system

Abstract

Abstract Nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were used to estimate the kinetic parameters for the curing reaction of a commercial unsaturated polyester resin. The reaction rate expression was derived from a mechanistic kinetic model based on the concept of free radical polymerization, accounting also for the diffusion controlled reaction. The total heat of reaction was evaluated in experiments run at very low scan speeds and using high amount of initiator. The kinetic parameters were found to show no dependency on the heating rate nor on the initiator concentration. Dynamic DSC measurements provide reliable kinetic data over a broad range of temperatures that is mostly significant for process simulations.