Polyester resins chemical structures

Polyesters are one of the most versatile classes of polymers ever produced, covering a wide range of properties and applications. Polyesters are present in fibers, engineering thermoplastics, and high-performance polymers as well as in thermosetting resins and elastomers. Table 2.1 lists the chemical structure, abbreviations, and uses of some commercially important thermoplastic polyesters. 

The largest single use of maleic anhydride is in the preparation of unsaturated polyester resins. It is first esterihed with a polyalcohol (two or more hydroxyls) and then the double bond is copolymerized (crosslinked) with a vinyl monomer such as styrene to form a rigid structure. Such resins are usually reinforced with hberglass (FRP). Maleic anhydride is also used to make oil additives and agricultural chemicals. 

Bisphenols is a broad term that includes many chemicals with the common chemical structure of two phenolic rings joined together by a bridging carbon. Bisphenol A is a monomer widely used in the manufacture of epoxy and phenolic resins, polycarbonates, polyacrylates and corrosion-resistant unsaturated polyester-styrene resins. It can be found in a diverse range of products, including the interior coatings of food cans and filters, water containers, dental composites and sealants. [4]. BPA and BP-5 were selected for testing by the whole... 

In this paper, the effect of temperature and concentration on corrosion behavior and corrosion mechanism of epoxy and unsaturated polyester resins in NaOH solution were studied, and were discussed by considering their chemical structures. Corrosion rate studies were also made by applying the concept of metallic corrosion. 

Figure 1. Chemical structures of epoxy and unsaturated polyester resins.

Resin solidification (curing) occurs by a free radical addition mechanism at the double bonds. That is why no by-products are formed. Curing compositions based on polyester resins contain a large number of different components (resins, initiators, accelerators, monomers, oligomers, fillers, etc), which may have various chemical structures, and may be used in various proportions. 

Lucite positive relief structures. Epofix was selected as the chip substrate, among acrylic-polyester resin (Casolite) and epoxy resin (Araldite), because of its having the best mechanical properties and the least chemical interference needed for fabricating the MS chip [780]. In another report, PDMS was chosen over epoxy to fabricate MS chips because of its less chemical noises (interferents) in MS, and over polyurethane because of good adhesion properties. Even so, in the use of PDMS its curing (at 70°C) should be carried out for at least 72 h to further reduce the chemical noise [800]. 

Phthalides and phthalic anhydrides are extremely common components in a huge variety of polymers, and are prepared using many chemical processes. There are over 1300 references to polymers derived from phthalic anhydrides in the Registry File of Chemical Abstracts. Phthalic anhydride itself is used in polyester resins but there are also many examples of polyimides that are derived from related anhydrides. In this section, a few examples representing a range of structure and polymerization process are presented. 

A condensation polymer is one in which the repeating unit lacks certain atoms which were present in the monomer(s) from which the polymer was formed or to which it can be degraded by chemical means. Condensation polymers are formed from bi- or polyfunctional monomers by reactions which involve elimination of some smaller molecule. Polyesters (e.g., 1-5) and polyamides like 1-6 are examples of such thermoplastic polymers. Phenol-formaldehyde resins (Fig. 5-1) are thermosetting condensation polymers. All these polymers are directly synthesized by condensation reactions. Other condensation polymers like cellulose (1-11) or starches can be hydrolyzed to glucose units. Their chemical structure indicates that their repealing units consist of linked glucose entities which lack the elements of water. They are also considered to be condensation polymers although they have not been synthesized yet in the laboratory. 

The chemical structure of glycols influences the tensile and flexural properties of cured polyester resins. Glycols with more carbon atoms generally... 

According to the chemical structure of the hot-melt adhesive polymers (polyamide resins, saturated polyester, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyurethanes), the processing temperatures range between 120 and 240 °C. 

Acrylics. Acetone is converted via the intermediate acetone cyanohydrin to the monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA) [80-62-6]. The MMA is polymerized to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to make the familiar clear acrylic sheet. PMMA is also used in molding and extrusion powders. Hydrolysis of acetone cyanohydrin gives methacrylic acid (MAA), a monomer which goes direcdy into acrylic latexes, carboxylated styrene—butadiene polymers, or ethylene—MAA ionomers. As part of the methacrylic structure, acetone is found in the following major end use products acrylic sheet molding resins, impact modifiers and processing aids, acrylic film, ABS and polyester resin modifiers, surface coatings, acrylic lacquers, emulsion polymers, petroleum chemicals, and various copolymers (see Methacrylic acid and derivatives Methacrylic polymers). 

As in polyester resins, reactive halogens containing fire-retardant chemicals are most often used in epoxy materials. Tetrabromobisphenol A is perhaps the most widely used component for flame-retarding epoxy resins. Nara and Matsuyama (24) and Nara et al. (25) described the thermal degradation and flame retardance of tetrabrominated bisphenol A diglycidyl ether compared to the nonbrorainated structure. Their results indicate that bromine acts by vapor-phase as well as condensed-phase mechanisms of flame inhibition. 

Huang, Y.J. and Chen, L.D. 1997. Effects of chemical composition and structure of unsaturated polyester resins on the miscibility, sample morphology and mechanical properties of styrene/unsaturated polyester/low-profile additive ternary systems. 1. Miscibility and cured sample morphology. Polymer 39 6631-6641. 

Unsaturated polyester resins are mainly made by condensing a dibasic acid (1,2-propanediol) with an anhydride (maleic or phthalic anhydrides), by forming ester linkages between the dibasic acid (or their anhydrides) and glycols. Then a reactive monomer (mostly styrene or vinyl toluene, MMA or diallyl phthalate) is used to crosslink the system when needed. Unsaturated denotes the uncompleted chemical activity (double bond) in the original structure, which are used for crosslinking afterwards. In this context, an excess of styrene as the crosslinker (10 to 50 %) is usually added to have it ready in the system, as well as to reduce the viscosity. There are also certain accelerators used (such as, cobalt naphthenate or tertiary amines like dimethyl aniline) to facilitate the cure at ambient temperatures. In addition, there may be pigments, fillers, various inhibitors, accelerators, stabilisers and flame retardants, added to the system. Polymerisation is activated whenever a catalyst (i.e., benzoyl or methyl-ethyl-ketone peroxide) is added. 

Urethane resins are synthesized from isocyanates and chemical compounds with hydroxyl or urethane groups (—N—C—O—) including water, polyesters, epoxies, and acrylics [8,9]. The chemical structure of urethane coating is shown in Fig. 13.4. Polyester and epoxy have better barrier resistance to moisture and chemical attack than the acrylic polyol. Ahphatic isocyanate-based coatings are resistant to UV hght and have excellent gloss and color retention. 

Polyester resin coatings are synthesized with components that introduce unsaturation into the polymer chain (—C=C—). The paint is manufactured by mixing a dissolved polyester resin in styrene monomer with pigment and reaction inhibitor. Additional styrene and peroxide are packaged in a separate container and are mixed with the paint when applied using a dual-headed spray gun. Peroxide serves as a radical polymerization initiator for the polyester resin with monomeric styrene and cross-linking. Figure 13.5 shows the chemical structure of an isophthahc polyester resin. 

Highly compatible polymer blends of PPE and linear polyester resins provide beneficial improvements in the chemical resistance required for automotive applications. Such automotive applications include molded thermoplastic body panels. Foamable compositions of PPE resins are particularly suited as sources of lightweight structural substitutes for metals, especially in the automotive industry. 

The more susceptible resins (polyesters, polyester urethanes, some epoxies) are attacked by boiling water fairly quickly, but could still resist cold water for very long periods. Other resins, with different chemical structures, are unaffected at all temperatures within their normal use range. 

The chemical reactivities of the unsaturated groups at the ends of vinyl ester resin and vinyl urethane resin chains are different in several respects from those of the same groups when situated in mid-chain positions, as they are in polyester resins. As a consequence of the different reactivity ratios, the two kinds of cured resin behave differently from moisture and chemical resistance points of view. The structural differences are also reflected in the mechanical properties, such as fracture toughness. 

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