Optimizing cure conditions for frontal polymerization composites

Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) have become increasingly employed across industries to achieve strength-to-weight ratios that were not previously possible. As the popularity of PMCs grows, there is great potential for energy and cost savings in the methods used to cure these polymer-based materials. One such method is frontal polymerization, where, once initiated, the curing reaction propagates through the part as a wave. Frontal polymerization is enabled by a fast exothermic cure along with favorable heat capacity and thermal conductivity to propagate the curing event through the part as a wave. RapiCure Solutions has investigated these chemistries and is working to bring a variety of frontal polymerization resins to market. This work describes a series of studies aimed at finding a very fast method for curing one of RapiCure’s pre-production formulations as the matrix material in carbon-fiber composites. Through these studies, we identified that thin composite parts could be effectively cured in three minutes with a heat gun placed one centimeter above the composite surface.