Determination of the extent of cross-linking prior to the intentional curing of polymers

摘要

A method for detecting extent of cross-linking of a high impedance polymer material during a pre-cure stage, the method comprising the steps of: a) applying a test signal through a sensor to the polymer material in the pre-cure stage to determine a level of impedance and corresponding sample voltage representative of a degree of cross-linking within the material; b) applying the same test signal through the sensor to a reference material having a fixed resistance to determine a reference voltage; c) determining a voltage difference between the test signal applied to the polymer at pre-cure stage and the test signal applied to the reference material as the reference voltage; d) correlating the voltage difference as a relative indicator of the extent of cross-linking which has occurred within the polymer material, based on comparison of magnitude of the voltage difference with respect to a comparable potential range of impedance for the polymer material from its lower impedance stage at minimal cross-linking to its high impedance stage at maximum impedance for total cross-linking.