The kinetic analysis of isothermal curing reaction of an epoxy resin-glassflake nanocomposite

The isothermal curing kinetics of epoxy/nano-glassflake (NGF) was studied using isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. The results of the isoconversional method show that the effect of conversion on activation energy (Ea) is negligible for both the neat resin and NGF-filled system. Model-fitting methods were used to determine the kinetic triplet, i.e., pre-exponential factor [A], activation energy [Ea], and reaction order [n], by a simultaneous treatment of all isothermal curing experimental data. The kinetic triplet showed reduction in presence of NGF. A good agreement between experimental data and nth-order model is found for all curing temperatures. Although both methods show that the Ea of epoxy/NGF are lower than those of the systems without NGF, the reaction is slower in the presence of NGF. Additional investigations on the glass transition temperature and curing kinetic curves show that vitrification did not occur during the curing reaction.

► Isothermal cure reaction of epoxy/nano-glassflake (NGF) is examined with DSC.
► Model-fitting and model-free isoconversional methods are used to the curing kinetic analysis.
► The results of the isoconversional method show that the effect of conversion on activation energy is negligible.
► The presence of NGF in the epoxy reduced its activation energy.