Parts made from phenolic molding materials must be postcured to promote the thorough crosslinking required for end usage at temperatures above about 175°C. Since the time and energy used in postcuring can represent about ten percent of part cost, efficient postcuring offers significant potential savings.
Based on a kinetic description of the phenolic crosslinking reaction, we have developed a computer model to predict the development of the glass transition during postcure. This model provides a convenient CAD tool for minimizing postcuring costs.
