3.

Explain how the curing temperature may affect the water absorption and other mechanical
properties.
After conducting this experiment, it is postulated that when a sample is cured at a higher
temperature, the density of the epoxy resin material decreases due to internal structural
expansion. Thus, the epoxy sample cured at a higher temperature has higher water adsorption
rate compared to the epoxy sample cured at room temperature. Besides structural expansion,
the tensile strength and the elastic modulus of the epoxy structure cured at the higher
temperature are also reduced. Internal expansion is also attributed to the degradation of the
interaction between the epoxy structural matrix and the fibre glass. Additionally, greater
amorphous structure will be formed in the material composition as the curing time of the
samples is increased, which will increase the rate of water absorption and mechanical
properties of the sample.
4. Using the literature values, obtain the density and modulus for DGEBA epoxy resin and fiber
glass (E-Glass). Calculate the theoretical modulus of your composite sample. (using the
known volume, and known density of epoxy, calculate the theoretical weight of epoxy without
fibers.)
For DGEBA epoxy resin, the density is 1.16 g/cm^3 and the modulus 2.08 GPa. As for the
fiber glass (E-glass), the density is 2540 kg/m^3 and the modulus is 72.4 GPa.
Theoretical modulus (theoretical weight):
Volume of epoxy: 50mm * 50mm * 3mm = 7500 mm3 = 7.5 cm3
Theoretical weight of epoxy: Density * Volume = 1.16 g/cm3 * 7.5 cm3
= 8.7 g

5. What are the advantages of using thermoset as matrix as compared to thermoplastic?

Thermoset resins are more conventional choices as they are liquid at room temperature when
uncured. Additionally, this property enables easier reinforcement with fibers at minimal
pressure to form various materials such as carbon fiber, fibre glass, Kevlar, and etc. When the

fibres are impregnated with the thermoset resins, chemical curing is carried out at constant
temperature to form a solid and sturdy structure. Thermoplastic, on the other hand, exist as a
solid structure and thus require continuous heating up to the melting point of the material to
form a liquid state. Besides that, the fibres will require high pressure to be impregnated with
the thermoplastic resin and have to be cooled under the same high pressure to form a stable
composite structure. This method requires specific and advanced tooling for the
manufacturing process, as the process is quite complex and will result in incurring a high cost
for the production.