Optimization of cure kinetics parameter estimation for Structural Reaction Injection Molding/Resin Transfer Molding

A numerical method is proposed for polymer kinetic parameter estimation of either Structural Reaction Injection Molding (SRIM) or Resin Transfer Molding (RTM). The method simulates either radial flow or axial flow of reactive resins through a fiber preform inside a mold cavity. This method considers a non-isothermal environment with different inlet boundary conditions. Based on the molding conditions, this method can find the best values of chemical kinetic parameters by comparing the simulated temperature history and the experimental temperature history. Since the kinetic parameters are estimated with the real molding conditions, the simulations using these parameter values can have better agreement with molding data than those parameters which are obtained from idealized conditions such as Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The optimization approach was verified by estimating kinetics parameters for RTM data available in the literature. Temperatures predicted by the optimized kinetics parameters are compared with experimental data for two different molding conditions: injection of a thermally activated resin into a radial mold under constant pressure flow, and injection of a mix activated resin into a radial mold under constant volume. In both cases, the optimized kinetics parameters fit the temperature data well.