ISO 12114:1997 PDF

Overview

ISO 12114:1997 defines standardized test methods for determining the cure characteristics of fibre‑reinforced thermosetting moulding compounds and prepregs. It covers two complementary test methods - a simple temperature‑vs‑time reactivity test (Method I) and a more sophisticated moulding simulation with pressure, displacement and temperature monitoring (Method II). The standard is applicable to all fibre‑reinforced thermosetting matrices, with particular relevance to unsaturated polyester systems and common commercial products such as SMC, BMC and DMC.

Key topics and requirements

• Two test methods
  • Method I: Simple reactivity/shelf‑life test using a cylindrical metal mould (20 mm ID), a heated punch and a thermocouple to record temperature vs time. Typical mould wall temperature used in production tests is 140 °C; a minimum punch load of about 15 daN is applied.
  • Method II: Simulated moulding in a press with a shear‑edge mould (≥200 cm²), equipped with flush pressure, temperature and displacement sensors and recording equipment to capture pressure (0–150 bar), displacement (0–20 mm) and temperature (0–200 °C).
• Measured cure characteristics
  • Heat generated by exotherm and reactivity (maximum temperature gradient, °C/s)
  • Time and temperature to onset of polymerization, time to maximum temperature and maximum temperature
  • Thermal expansion, cure shrinkage and net shrinkage (reaction shrinkage minus thermal expansion)
  • For Method II: zero time (pressure = 10 bar), cure time from temperature, onset and maximum expansion, specific thermal expansion (STE), end of shrinkage
• Sampling, conditioning and specimens
  • Defined sampling for sheet and bulk moulding compounds; conditioning to temperature equilibrium (≥18 °C) and preparation of 3 specimens minimum per test.
• Apparatus and recording
  • Requirements for thermocouples, press accuracy, sensor placement and data recording to enable reproducible curves of temperature, pressure and displacement.

Applications and users

ISO 12114 is used for:

• Quality control and batch acceptance testing by composite manufacturers
• Formulation development and R&D to compare reactivity and optimise catalysts, inhibitors and processing parameters
• Shelf‑life assessment of prepregs and moulding compounds
• Process simulation and troubleshooting in production moulding of automotive, electrical, marine and industrial composite parts

Typical users: materials suppliers, composite component manufacturers, test laboratories, process engineers and standards/specification writers.

Related standards

• ISO 472 - Plastics - Vocabulary
• ISO 8605 - Textile glass reinforced plastics - SMC basis for specification
• ISO 8606 - Prepregs, BMC and DMC - Basis for specification

Keywords: ISO 12114, cure characteristics, fibre‑reinforced plastics, thermosetting moulding compounds, prepregs, reactivity test, cure testing, SMC, BMC, DMC.