The method of thermal frontal polymerization (TFP) was used to cure the selected alicyclic epoxy resin. The effect of the factors

including amount of curing agent

preheating temperature and tilt angle of reactor

on frontal velocity and frontal temperature was investigated. The structure and thermal properties of the cured products were characterized with FTIR

DSC and TG analysis. The results showed that both frontal velocity Vf and maximum frontal temperature Tmax increased with increasing amount of curing agent or preheating temperature

while initiation time and the time needed to reach the highest frontal temperature decreased. When the reactor tilted

the heading direction of the descending front would drift

and frontal velocity would tend to slow down. The analysis of FTIR spectrum indicated that the products obtained by the TFP method exhibited similar infrared absorption as compared to that of the products prepared by the traditional thermal curing method. DSC and TG results revealed that the products obtained by the TFP method had higher glass transition temperature and better thermal stability.