Curing of a novolac-type phenolic resin was studied by DSC. The kinetic analysis was performed by means of the dynamic Ozawa method at heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20degreesC/min. This analysis was used to determine the kinetic parameters of the curing process. The activation energy was found to be 144 kJ/mol. It was found that the Ozawa exponent values decreased with increasing reaction temperature from 3.5 to 1, suggesting a change in the reaction mechanism from microgel growth to diffusion-controlled reaction. The reaction rate constant was found to range from 123.0 to 33.6 (degreesC/min)(n). (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.