SELECTIVE METHOD OF CURING EPOXY BINDERS FOR THE CREATION OF THIN-WALLED HIGH- STRENGTH STRUCTURES

Purpose To improve the physical and mechanical characteristics of the epoxy composition, reduce energy consump-tion, cost, reduce production areas, as well as protect the environment, for the hardening thin-walled structures made of polymer composite materials, it is necessary to choose the most rational method for curing polymer composite materials. Methodology The prepared samples of the epoxy binder ЭДТ-10+УП606/2(1%) with a size of 10х10х10 mm, were hardened by convective, IR heating, and selective IR heating according to specified modes. IR heating is provided by unit with three halogen incandescent lamps type КГТ-220-1000-1 inside and using a salt filter. The mode of composition hardening according to three technologies has been developed. Findings The results of measurements of the cured samples showed that the highest microhardness was achieved using selective IR heating. Metallographic studies has shown that polymer obtained a compact structure with a high degree of hardening, approximately 97%. Hardened samples of ЭДТ-10 epoxy binder were subjected to mechanical tests. Having determined the microhardness, it was found that during the selective hardening of the ЭДТ-10 binder, the microhardness was 34,57 kgf/mm2, IR heating - 30,85 kgf/mm2, convective heating – 29,61 kgf/mm2. Originality To obtain the maximum specific power from the IR emitter, salt filters were used, in which the main part of the emitted energy fell on the wavelength (2,8 – 3,2)•10-6 м. This technique allows you to select the necessary frequency bands. Practicalvalue The results of epoxy composition samples hardening experiment showed that the hardening process by the IR heating selective method takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, in contrast to convective heating which requires at least 7 hours and IR heating with 2 hours and 30 minutes. The selective method provides a uniform temperature distribution over the entire surface to be treated, which ensures high physical and mechanical characteristics. Conclusions On the basis of experimental researches with help selective method IR of hardening samples from PCM have been received on the basis of epoxy binding which possess high mechanical durability and compact structure in comparison with a composition which hardening a traditional convection heating.