Modeling the thermophysical characteristics of polymer composites in the curing process

Constructing models of thermophysical characteristics of polymer composite materials in the curing process is a highly pressing task that is substantiated in this paper. A mathematical model of hot curing of polymer composites based on a thermosetting resin in a mold is presented. Based on experimental temperature dependences of thermophysical characteristics measured under different conditions, modeling dependences of the volume heat capacity and thermal conductivity of fiber, fabric and granular polymer composites on the degree of cure and resin fraction during curing are obtained, with their distinctive feature being the replacement of the properties of a porous reinforcing filler with those of the cured resin in the model. The results of experiments and calculations are presented. The proposed models of thermophysical characteristics increase the accuracy of process modeling and calculation of optimal temperature-time curing cycles.