Optimization of polyester sheet molding compound. Part II: Theoretical modeling

A mechanistic kinetic and heat transfer model is used to describe the cure of sheet molding compounds (SMC). Kinetic parameters such as rate constant of initiator decomposition and rate constant of propagation are estimated from the induction time and the time to reach the peak exotherm of isothermal reaction curves measured by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Temperature and conversion profiles inside plate sections of SMC parts during molding are measured. The predicted results compare well with the experimental data except the limiting conversion. A set of predictive parameters are proposed from this model as guidelines for the optimal molding of SMC. Several moldability diagrams are also constructed which can be easily used to design the optimum SMC recipe for a given processing condition.