Development of a High-Fidelity Framework to Describe the Process-Dependent Viscoelasticity of a Fast-Curing Epoxy...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science and Engineering
• Materials Science
• Composite Manufacturing

Background:

• Fast-curing epoxy resins significantly reduce cycle times in thermoset polymer matrix composite production.
• The snap-cure behavior of these resins presents challenges in characterization and processing.
• A high-fidelity predictive framework is needed to understand and manage process-dependent material behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust framework for predicting the behavior of fast-curing epoxy resins.
• To validate the model's accuracy across various experimental conditions and loading scenarios.
• To enable precise control and optimization of composite manufacturing processes.

Main Methods:

• Extensive rheometer and dynamic mechanical analysis experiments were conducted.
• Data were collected to determine the influence of time, temperature, and degree of cure.
• A generalized Maxwell model was developed and calibrated using the experimental results.

Main Results:

• The developed material model accurately describes the epoxy resin's behavior under diverse investigated conditions.
• The model demonstrated high predictive accuracy when subjected to previously unknown loading and temperature conditions.
• The framework successfully links experimental observations to validated material models.

Conclusions:

• The generalized Maxwell model provides a highly accurate prediction of fast-curing epoxy resin behavior.
• The developed framework effectively handles the complexity of snap-cure epoxy resins in composite manufacturing.
• This approach facilitates improved process control and material characterization for thermoset composites.