heatcured

Heatcured, or heat curing, is a processing method in which a liquid resin or polymerizable system is transformed into a solid network through exposure to elevated temperature. The heat initiates cross-linking or polymerization, often via thermal initiators or catalysts that decompose to form reactive species. The result is a thermoset or highly cross-linked polymer with improved mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and thermal stability compared to room-temperature cured materials.

Cure cycles specify a target temperature and time, sometimes with gradual ramps to control exotherm and shrinkage. Common heat-cured systems include epoxies, phenolic resins, silicone rubbers, and acrylic resins. In dentistry, heat-cured acrylic resins are used for denture bases and certain appliances; these resins are processed in a flask with heated water, triggering polymerization of methyl methacrylate around a polymer powder to form polymethyl methacrylate. Other heat-cured systems include epoxy resins used as structural adhesives or coatings, where elevated temperature promotes complete cross-linking.

Advantages of heat curing include higher curing conversion, superior mechanical properties, and reduced residual monomer relative to some room-temperature-cured systems. Limitations involve the need for controlled heating equipment, energy costs, potential distortion from exotherms, longer cycle times, and the requirement for careful mold or part design to manage shrinkage and stresses.

In sum, heat curing is a widely used method to achieve durable, high-performance polymers and composites by applying heat to drive the chemical reactions that form a solid, cross-linked network.