Curing of an Epoxy Resin
Analysis and optimization of thermosets can easily be carried out using differential scanning calorimetry.
Presented here is the DSC 3500 Sirius measurement on an epoxy resin.
The exothermic peak detected at 135.5°C (peak temperature) during the 1st heating is caused by curing of the sample. After this first heating up to 200°C, the epoxy resin is completely cured. The glass transition of the cured sample can be determined by means of a second heating: it was detected at 115.0°C (midpoint).