Cure rate of DGEBA/MDA/GN/HQ system by differential scanning calorimetry analysis

To compare investigations of the cure kinetics of DGEBA/MDA/GN/HQ system by different methods, the fractional life method, Kissinger equation, Barrett method and integral method were used. From the fractional life method, reaction orders were between 0.77 and 0.93 but had no correlation with cure temperature, and from the Kissinger equation, the activation energy was 11.08 kcal mol(-1) and pre-exponential factor was 2.78 x 10(9) s(-1). For the second-order reaction by the Barrett method and integral method, the activation energy was 20 kcal mol(-1) and the pre-exponential factor was 8.5 x 10(8) s(-1). By comparison of the Barrett model with experimental data, it was found that the Barrett model was useful for predicting the cure time at a given temperature. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.