Temperature Distribution in Fibre - glass Composite Impregnated with Epoxy - Cyanate ester Blend

Cyanate ester and epoxy blends have been identified as an attractive insulating material for fusion grade magnet winding packs. An insulation system comprising of fibre glass composites and cyanate ester and blend has been analyzed during its vacuum pressure impregnation and curing. The transient one dimensional distribution of temperature and extent of cure has been evaluated both analytically and experimentally in this paper. The one dimensional transient (1-D) heat transfer characteristics evaluation has been carried out on 60:40 (epoxy : cyanate) which has been optimally prescribed blend for fusion grade winding process. The analytical formulation solves the heat transfer differential equations incorporating internal heat generation resulting from the exothermic chemical reaction in both chemical and diffusional kinetic regimes. In support to the analytical formulation, carefully designed experiments have been carried out on such samples. On comparing the results obtained from analytical formulism and those measured during experiments have been found to be matching well. These results have the potential to design the vacuum pressure impregnation of large size fusion relevant winding packs.