Rubber modified epoxy resin. III: Reaction injection molding process

Abstract

Reaction injection molding of amine terminated butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer (ATBN) modified epoxy resin was investigated through computer simulation and experiment. The epoxy system composed of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and triethylene tetramine (TETA) was employed since this system indicated a relatively high reaction rate. The coupled balance equations of momentum, chemical species, and energy within the disc-type mold cavity were solved using finite difference techniques. The predicted temperature and conversion profiles within the mold were compared to experimental results. The domain correlation length data calculated from the simulation model were compared with the results of SEM micrographs. A moldability analysis was performed to find the optimum molding conditions. The moldability window decreased as the mold thickness was increased.