What phase of curing occurs immediately following gel-time?

The phase of curing that occurs immediately following gel-time is known as post-cure. This phase is crucial in the curing process of composite materials, as it involves the continuation of the hardening and strengthening of the resin after it has set and transitioned from a liquid state to a solid state.

During gel-time, the resin begins to thicken and transition into a gel-like consistency, which indicates the onset of curing. Following this, the post-cure phase involves the additional chemical reactions necessary to achieve maximum strength and thermal properties in the material. It can include elevated temperature treatments to enhance physical properties and may continue for a period of time to ensure the composite reaches its desired performance characteristics.

The other phases mentioned, such as full-cure and initial cure, refer to stages in the curing process but do not specifically designate the stage that follows gel-time. The setting phase is also not commonly used to describe the curing stages in this context. Thus, recognizing post-cure as the phase that follows gel-time is essential for understanding composite material processing and ensuring optimum performance in the final product.