Isoconversional cure kinetics of a novel thermosetting resin based on linseed oil

In the current work, the thermal curing process of maleinated acrylated epoxidized linseed oil (MaAELO) mixed with reactive diluent, initiator, and accelerator was studied by using isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic rheology. The investigations encompassed (1) the determination of the whole set of apparent kinetic parameters, Ea(α), A(α), and f(α) by using two accurate isoconversional kinetic analysis methods and the compensation effect, (2) the prediction of cure conversion curves, α(t), at arbitrary processing temperatures with all three kinetic parameters in comparison with the prediction based on Ea(α) alone, and (3) the determination of molecular and macroscopic gelation during the thermal cure of MaAELO resin mixture. The thermal cure of MaAELO resin mixture did not start immediately but after a remarkable induction period. It was possible to determine the kinetic parameters and use them to predict the induction period for arbitrary process temperature. In addition, the glass transition temperature, Tg, of thermally cured MaAELO resin mixture was measured by thermomechanical analysis and dynamic DSC.