Changes in volume and thermal expansion coefficient were investigated during the cure of a high temperature curing epoxy resin containing a thermoplastic modifier. The measurements were carried out using a combination of standard and novel thermoanalytical techniques. It is shown that the chemical shrinkage of the curing resin is a linear function of the degree of cure, whereas the coefficient of thermal expansion depends on the temperature and on the degree of cure. This experimental

more »

... n is translated to an incremental model that simulates the volumetric changes occurring as the resin follows a programmed thermal profile. Such a model can serve as a density sub-model in simulating heat transfer or residual stress development in composites during the manufacturing process.