Method of controlling a resin curing process

Abstract

An analytical technique for controlling the curing process of fiber-reinforced composite materials that are formed using thermosetting resins. The technique is the percent gel method and involves development of a time-to-gel equation as s function of temperature. From this equation a rate-of-gel equation is then determined, and a percent gel is calculated which is the product of the rate-of-gel times time. Percent gel accounting is used to control the proper pressure application point in an autoclave cure process to achieve desired properties in a production composite part.