| Abstract: | Dynamic viscoelastic properties of a system, NCO-terminated polyurethane–aniline–cresol–formaldehyde liquid resin were studied during the curing process using an R-17 Weissenberg Rheogoniometer. For gel time determinations a new method was developed, the gel time being then difined as the cure time when the relaxation time τ = 3 s at a frequency of 0.1 Hz was achieved. The dynamic storage modulus G′, the dynamic viscosity η´ and the relaxation time τ have been determined as functions of curing time. The effects of cure temperature and of curing agent concentration on G′, η′, and τ were studied. The influence of cure temperature on the gel time and on the visco-elastic properties determined at 18ks (5 h) of curing was discussed. Based on the experimental results, it was concluded that curing at higher temperature led to the more crosslinked polymer. Activation energy values for the gel time were also determined and compared with the values for polyurethanes and polyurethaneureas reported elsewhere. A relationship between the relaxation time and the effect of frequency on modulus G′ was presented, and it appeared to be independent of cure temperature, curing agent concentration, and curing time, being then presumably a useful method for comparative studies of viscoelastic behavior of different materials in curing process. This relationship was compared with the approximate relationship between tan δ and d In G′/d In ω given by Staverman and Schwarzl. The agreement at shorter relaxation times and some discrepancy at longer times were obtained. |
