Polyester resin reinforced with glass fibre

The polyester resins, reinforced with glass fibre, are the most common thermosetting plastics used for chemical plant. Complex shapes can be easily formed using the techniques developed for working with reinforced plastics. Glass-reinforced plastics are relatively... 

The separator is a vertical cylindrical vessel made from Werkstoff 4505 (comparable to STST316L but containing 2% Cu, 1.5% Nb and higher in H than 316L) or constructed of polyester resin reinforced with glass fibre. This is protected on the inside by a 3 mm layer of PVC, chemically bonded to the glass fibre. Although the latter separators are cheaper than the Werkstoff type, special skills would be needed to repair them if tMs became necessary. 

The tubes are pultruded with a polyester resin reinforced with long unidirectional fibres of E-glass. The volume fraction is 50%, the axial Young s modulus is greater than 25 000 N/mm and the strength is greater than 200 N/mm ... 

Nowadays, plastics are frequently combined with metals, glass, wood, or other materials. For example polyester and epoxy resins may be reinforced with glass fibre, or phenolic resins built up with asbestos to form laminated structures giving extra toughness and... 

Epoxide resins reinforced with carbon and Aramid fibres have been used in small boats, where it is claimed that products of equal stiffness and more useable space may be produced with a 40% saving in weight over traditional polyester/ glass fibre composites. Aramid fibre-reinforced epoxide resins have been developed in the United States to replace steel helmets for military purposes. Printed circuit board bases also provide a substantial outlet for epoxide resins. One recent survey indicates that over one-quarter of epoxide resin production in Western Europe is used for this application. The laminates also find some use in chermical engineering plant and in tooling. 

Nowadays the major thermosetting resins used in conjunction with glass fibre reinforcement are unsaturated polyester resins and to a lesser extent epoxy resins. The most important advantages which these materials can offer are that they do not liberate volatiles during cross-linking and they can be moulded using low pressures at room temperature. Table 3.1 shows typical properties of fibre reinforced epoxy. 

Results are presented of experiments undertaken by Gaiker in the manufacture of sandwich panels containing foam cores based on PETP recycled by a solid state polyaddition process developed by M G Ricerche. Panels were produced with glass fibre-reinforced unsaturated polyester and epoxy resin skins, and allthermoplastic panels with PE, PP, PS and glass fibre-reinforced PETP skins were also produced. EVA hot melt adhesives and thermoset adhesives were evaluated in bonding glass fibre-reinforced PETP skins to the foam cores. Data are presented for the mechanical properties of the structures studied. 

Maleic anhydride is used as a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of fumaric and tartaric acids, certain agricultural chemicals, resins in numerous products, dye intermediates and pharmaceuticals [2]. It is primarily used as a co-monomer for unsaturated polyester resins, which are used in the production of bonding agents for plywood manufacture and when mixed with glass fibres for reinforced plastics. Annual production of maleic anhydride is estimated to be over one million tormes [3]. 

The highest mechanical strengths are usually obtained when the fibre is used in fine fabric form but for many purposes the fibres may be used in mat form, particularly glass fibre. The chemical properties of the laminates are largely determined by the nature of the polymer but capillary attraction along the fibre-resin interface can occur when some of these interfaces are exposed at a laminate surface. In such circumstances the resistance of both reinforcement and matrix must be considered when assessing the suitability of a laminate for use in chemical plant. Glass fibres are most commonly used for chemical plant, in conjunction with phenolic resins, and the latter with furane, epoxide and, sometimes, polyester resins. 

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