In-situ cure monitoring of an epoxy/amine resin system using an optical fiber transmission sensor

摘要

Abstract: This paper reports on the feasibility of monitoring the cure of an epoxy-amine resin system using a transmission-based optical fiber sensor and near-infrared spectroscopy. The sensor was prepared from two silica fibers aligned within a notched precision bore capillary tube to produce a robust transmission cell without the need for complicated alignment. The resin system used consisted of Shell Epikote 828 (resin) and 1,6-hexanediamine (hardener). Using the optical fiber sensor, spectra were collected throughout the cure over the wavelength range 1450 - 1700 nm. Cure data from the optical fiber sensor were compared with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) experiments carried out at similar cure temperatures. The cure kinetic data were generated as a function of temperature for stoichiometric mixtures of the resin and hardener. An attempt was made to fit the cure data from the above mentioned techniques to a semi-empirical model. Good correlation was obtained between the cure model and the optical fiber cure data. !13