Investigation of the Influence of Diffusion Control on the Curing Reaction Using DSC and Temperature Modulated DSC

The curing reaction of a thermosetting system is investigated by DSC and temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC). When the material vitrifies during curing, the reaction becomes diffusion controlled. The phase shift signal measured by TMDSC includes direct information on the reaction kinetics. For long periods the phase shift is approximately proportional to the partial temperature derivative of the reaction rate. This signal is very sensitive for changes in the reaction kinetics. In the present paper an approach to determine the diffusion control influence on the reaction kinetics from the measured phase shift is developed. The results are compared with experimental data. Further applications of this method for other reactions are proposed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.