Senior Project Advisor
Mark Peyron
Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Spring 2025
Keywords
composites, cure, frontal polymerization, polymer
Abstract
Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) have become increasingly employed across industries to achieve strength-to-weight ratios that were not previously possible. As the popularity of PMCs grows, there is great potential for energy and cost savings in the methods used to cure these polymer-based materials. One such method is frontal polymerization, where, once initiated, the curing reaction propagates through the part as a wave. Frontal polymerization is enabled by a fast exothermic cure along with favorable heat capacity and thermal conductivity to propagate the curing event through the part as a wave. RapiCure Solutions has investigated these chemistries and is working to bring a variety of frontal polymerization resins to market. This work describes a series of studies aimed at finding a very fast method for curing one of RapiCure’s pre-production formulations as the matrix material in carbon-fiber composites. Through these studies, we identified that thin composite parts could be effectively cured in three minutes with a heat gun placed one centimeter above the composite surface.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Anders; Granat, Ethan; and Peyron, Mark, "Optimizing cure conditions for frontal polymerization composites" (2025). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 964.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/964
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf