A Study on the Selection of Cure Kinetics Models for Predicting the Curing Behavior of Epoxy Resins

Jaeyoung Jo; Sangyoon Bae; Wonki Kim; Donghyeon Cho; Mingeun Lee; Seung Min Jeong; Ye Jin Kim; Jin Sung Kim; Seong-Su Kim

doi:10.6108/KSPE.2025.29.6.015

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2025 Vol.29, Issue 6 Preview Page Next Page

RESEARCH PAPERS

A Study on the Selection of Cure Kinetics Models for Predicting the Curing Behavior of Epoxy Resins 에폭시 수지의 경화 거동 예측을 위한 경화 동역학 모델 선정에 관한 연구

31 December 2025. pp. 15-22

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Abstract

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP), known for their excellent specific strength, stiffness, and heat resistance, are key structural materials in aerospace, automotive, and defense industries. Especially in propulsion systems under extreme environments, understanding the curing behavior of the epoxy matrix is crucial for reliability. In this study, the curing behavior of the epoxy resin applied to CFRP was quantitatively analyzed under both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Under isothermal conditions, the Kamal-Sourour model was applied with a normalization method based on the final degree of cure to enhance reliability at low temperatures. This approach yielded clearly defined Arrhenius parameters and demonstrated high fitting accuracy. For non-isothermal conditions, the Sestak-Berggren model incorporating dynamic exponential terms was adopted to capture the complex reaction mechanisms. Although this model produced high coefficients of determination and accurate Arrhenius parameters, the physical interpretation of the parameters was found to be unclear. These results suggest that the Kamal-Sourour model is well-suited for precise process control under thermally stable curing environments, while the Sestak-Berggren model, despite its numerical flexibility, requires further validation regarding its physical relevance.

Keywords

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites

Cure Kinetics

Epoxy Resin

Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Cure Cycle

탄소섬유 강화 복합재(CFRP)는 우수한 비강도, 비강성, 내열성을 바탕으로 항공우주, 자동차, 방위 산업 등에서 핵심 구조재로 활용되고 있으며, 특히 극한 환경에 노출되는 추진 시스템에서는 에폭시 매트릭스의 경화 거동에 대한 이해가 신뢰성 확보에 있어 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)를 이용하여 CFRP에 적용된 에폭시 수지의 경화 거동을 등온 및 비등온 조건에서 정량적으로 분석하였다. 등온 조건에서는 저온 영역에서의 신뢰도를 높이기 위해 최종 경화도 기반 정규화 기법을 적용한 Kamal-Sourour 모델을 사용하였으며, 명확한 아레니우스 계수 도출과 높은 모델 적합도를 확인할 수 있었다. 비등온 조건에서는 동적 지수항을 도입한 Sestak-Berggren 모델을 적용하여 복잡한 반응 메커니즘을 설명하고자 하였으며, 높은 결정계수와 아레니우스 계수의 정확도를 보였으나, 도출된 매개변수의 물리적 해석에는 한계가 있었다. 이러한 결과는 Kamal-Sourour 모델이 열적으로 안정된 경화 환경에서의 정밀한 공정 제어에 적합함을 시사하며, Sestak-Berggren 모델은 수치적 유연성은 우수하지만 물리적 타당성에 대한 추가 검증이 필요함을 보여준다.

키워드

탄소섬유 강화 복합재료

경화 동역학

에폭시 수지

시차주사열량계

경화 사이클

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
Publisher(Ko) :한국추진공학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
Journal Title(Ko) :한국추진공학회지
Volume : 29
No :6
Pages :15-22
Received Date : 2025-06-16
Revised Date : 2025-09-17
Accepted Date : 2025-09-20
DOI :https://doi.org/10.6108/KSPE.2025.29.6.015

Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers ISSN:1226-6027(Print) 2288-4548(Online) 한국추진공학회지

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