Cure timeline
Milestones on a log-time axis (applied layer + mixing pot)Cross-section
Temperature
Degree of cure & hardness
Viscosity
Mixing pot exotherm
Final properties
vs. same product cured ideally (25 °C, perfect mix)Warnings & advice
Temperature sensitivity
Same setup, ambient / material / stone temperature swept together. Rule of thumb: every +10 °C roughly halves the times.
How the model works
- Kinetics: autocatalytic Kamal–Sourour model,
dα/dt = (k₁ + k₂αᵐ)·[(1−α)(s−α)]ⁿᐟ²·f_d, Arrhenius temperature dependence.sis the amine-H : epoxy ratio set by the A:B mix. - Vitrification: glass transition grows with cure (DiBenedetto). When
Tgapproaches the cure temperature the reaction becomes diffusion-controlled and stalls — this is why cold cures never reach full properties and why post-curing helps. - Gel point: Flory–Stockmayer,
α_gel ≈ 0.58·√s. Viscosity: Castro–Macosko, diverging at gel. - Heat: 1D implicit finite-volume model through the epoxy layer and the substrate (stone/metal/wood…), with convection + radiation to air. Thick layers trap exotherm; metal and stone pull heat away; cold stone slows the bond line.
- Pot: lumped heat balance of the mixed batch — larger masses self-heat, shortening pot life (mass effect).
- Humidity: dew-point check and amine-blush risk (greasy/cloudy surface, delayed tack-free).
- Custom Paste Formulation: calculates equivalent weights (EEW of Part A and AHEW of Part B), true stoichiometric mix ratios, fumed silica thixotropy yield stress, UV degradation risk, and predicts the effective rate constants and $T_g$ for any combination of resins, diluents, amines, and additives.
- Mixing quality: represented as a distribution of local mix ratios — streaks give soft spots and weak bond lines.
Presets and formulation models are calibrated from peer-reviewed epoxy-amine reaction kinetics and polymer chemistry principles. Always verify critical load-bearing stone installations against the laboratory technical data sheets of your raw material suppliers.