Polyesters as matrix materials

Polyester is one of the earliest types of thermoset and is widely used in FRP composites, where its thermosetting properties are very valuable. Between 2000 and 2008, polyester manufacture in Europe increased rapidly, with a 4—5% annual gain. Owing to the economic crisis, the whole plastics processing sector faced a drop in both net income and industrial use however, the polyester sector has nevertheless managed to achieve continual growth in recent years. 

Unsaturated polyesters are generally in the form of polyester resins, which are viscous liquids, or even solids with low melting point, and have low molecular weights. The polymer units are linked via ester groups, and 

C=C double bonds. Initiators and accelerators must be added separately to the polyester resin, usually just before the forming procedure. The initiator concentration should be 1-2%, and although the initiator plays no direct role in cross-linking and only serves to catalyse the reaction, the ratio of initiator to resin is still very important if it is incorrect, false cross-linking may occur. The most widely used accelerators are cobalt- and manganese-based organic complex compounds. 

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The generic thermosets are the epoxies and the polyesters (both widely used as matrix materials for fibre-reinforced polymers) and the formaldehyde-based plastics (widely used for moulding and hard surfacing). Other formaldehyde plastics, which now replace bakelite, are ureaformaldehyde (used for electrical fittings) and melamine-formaldehyde (used for tableware). 

The lower thermal stability of natural fibers, up to 230°C, the thermal stability is only small, which limits the number of thermoplastics to be considered as matrix materials for natural fiber composites. Only those thermoplastics whose processing temperature does not exceed 230°C are usable for natural fiber reinforced composites. These are, most of all, polyolefines, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Technical thermoplastics, such as poyamides, polyesters, and polycarbonates, require... 

Saturated complex polyesters, particularly, poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT) are used as engineering thermoplastics possesing good thermo - and wearstability, excellent moulding. These properties also allow to use them as matrix material for polymer composites [1], One of the perspective ways of search of effective catalysts for such systems is kinetic study of the reesterification model reaction, performed in the presence of various catalysts and comparison it with the results of the similar reaction without catalyst. Clarification on the example of model system of the most effective catalysts list allows to use them for obtaining both filled and nonfilled PBT and compare catalytic activity of various catalysts. The purpose of the... 

Virtually any reinforcement-matrix combination feasible in any other composites application also may be used in pultrusion however, glass heavily dominates as reinforcement with 95 percent in the United States and 98 percent in Europe (see Table 11.1), whereas polyester resin dominates as matrix material with 79 percent in the United States and 66 percent in Europe [2]. 

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are composed of fibres and matrices, which are bonded through the interface to ensure that the composite system as a whole gives satisfactory performance. Part 1 deals with FRP composite matrix materials which provide the foundation for composite materials. Chapter 2 reviews the chemistry of phenolic resins together with their mechanical and thermal properties. Chapter 3 discusses polyester thermoset resins as matrix materials. An overview of the chemistry of vinylester resins, together with their mechanical and chemical properties, as well as their use as a matrix material in the construction industry, is provided in Chapter 4. The final chapter in Part 1 begins with a review of the epoxy resins commonly available on the market, and then focuses on the principal characteristics of epoxy resin composite systems and their practical applications. 

Phenohc resins (qv), once a popular matrix material for composite materials, have in recent years been superseded by polyesters and epoxies. Nevertheless, phenohc resins stiU find considerable use in appHcations where high temperature stabiHty and fire resistance are of paramount importance. Typical examples of the use of phenoHc resins in the marine industry include internal bulkheads, decks, and certain finishings. The curing process involves significant production of water, often resulting in the formation of voids within the volume of the material. Further, the fact that phenoHcs are prone to absorb water in humid or aqueous conditions somewhat limits their widespread appHcation. PhenoHc resins are also used as the adhesive in plywood, and phenohc molding compounds have wide use in household appliances and in the automotive, aerospace, and electrical industries (12). 

Polymer-matrix materials include a wide range of specific materials. Perhaps the most commonly used polymer is epoxy. Other polymers include vinyl ester and polyester. Polymers can be either of the thermoset type, where cross-linking of polymer chains is irreversible, or of the thermoplastic type, where cross-linking does not take place but the matrix only hardens and can be softened and hardened repeatedly. For example, thermoplastics can be heated and reheated, as is essential to any injection-molding process. In contrast, thermosets do not melt upon reheating, so they cannot be injection molded. Polyimides have a higher temperature limit than epoxies (650°F versus 250°F or 350°F) (343°C versus 121°C or 177°C), but are much more brittle and considerably harder to process. 

Composite Particles, Inc. reported the use of surface-modified rubber particles in formulations of thermoset systems, such as polyurethanes, polysulfides, and epoxies [95], The surface of the mbber was oxidized by a proprietary gas atmosphere, which leads to the formation of polar functional groups like —COOH and —OH, which in turn enhanced the dispersibility and bonding characteristics of mbber particles to other polar polymers. A composite containing 15% treated mbber particles per 85% polyurethane has physical properties similar to those of the pure polyurethane. Inclusion of surface-modified waste mbber in polyurethane matrix increases the coefficient of friction. This finds application in polyurethane tires and shoe soles. The treated mbber particles enhance the flexibility and impact resistance of polyester-based constmction materials [95]. Inclusion of treated waste mbber along with carboxyl terminated nitrile mbber (CTBN) in epoxy formulations increases the fracture toughness of the epoxy resins [96]. 

Most structural PMCs consist of a relatively soft matrix, such as a thermosetting plastic of polyester, phenolic, or epoxy, sometimes referred to as resin-matrix composites. Some typical polymers used as matrices in PMCs are listed in Table 1.28. The list of metals used in MMCs is much shorter. Aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and iron- and nickel-based alloys are the most common (see Table 1.29). These metals are typically utilized due to their combination of low density and good mechanical properties. Matrix materials for CMCs generally fall into fonr categories glass ceramics like lithium aluminosilicate oxide ceramics like aluminnm oxide (alnmina) and mullite nitride ceramics such as silicon nitride and carbide ceramics such as silicon carbide. 

In most applications, polyester and vinyl ester resins are used as the matrix materials. Epoxies are also used, although they require longer cure times and do not release easily from the pultrusion dies. Hence, thermosetting resins are most commonly used with pultrusion, although some high-performance thermoplastics such as PEEK and polysulfone can also be accommodated. In addition to the resin, the resin bath may contain a curing agent (initiator, cf. Section 3.3.1.2), colorants, ultraviolet stabilizer, and fire retardant. 

Matrix materials for commercial composites are mainly liquid thermosetting resins such as polyesters, vinyl esters, epoxy resins, and bismaleimide resins. Thermoplastic composites are made from polyamides, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polysulfone, polyetherim-ide (PEI), and polyamide-imide (PAI). 

Spent resins are generally compatible with the polymer matrix material. Generally, the polymer and the resin do not interact chemically. The immobilization of spent ion-exchange resins in polymers is a common application all over the world. Epoxy resins, polyesters, polyethylene, polystyrene and copolymers, polyurethane, phenol-formaldehyde, and polystyrene are among the polymers used (IAEA, 1988). Inorganic materials are generally not immobilized using polymers because they are more acceptable to other immobilization matrices such as cement. 

Addition poly(imide) oligomers are used as matrix resins for high performance composites based on glass-, carbon- and aramide fibers. The world wide market for advanced composites and adhesives was about 70 million in 1990. This amounted to approximately 30-40 million in resin sales. Currently, epoxy resins constitute over 90% of the matrix resin materials in advanced composites. The remaining 10% are unsaturated polyester and vinylester for the low temperature applications and cyanate esters and addition poly(imides) for high temperatures. More recently thermoplastics have become important and materials such as polyimides and poly(arylene ether) are becoming more competitive with addition polyimides. 

Adipic acid [124-04-9] - [ALKYD RESINS] (Vol 2) - [DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS] (Vol 8) - [FOOD ADDITIVES] (Vol 11) - (ELECTROCHEMICALPROCESSDTG - ORGANIC] (Vol 9) -barrier polymers from [BARRIERPOLYMERS] (Vol 3) -from cyclohexane [HYDROCARBONS - C1-C6] (Vol 13) -from cyclohexane [HYDROCARBON OXIDATION] (Vol 13) -from cyclohexanol [CYCLOHEXANOL AND CYCLOHEXANONE] (Vol 7) -as food additive [FOOD ADDITIVES] (Vol 11) -nylon from [POLYAMIDES - FIBERS] (Vol 19) -nylon-6,6 from [POLYAMIDES - GENERAL] (Vol 19) -nylon-6,6 from [POLYAMIDES - PLASTICS] (Vol 19) -m polyester production [COMPOSITE MATERIALS - POLYMER-MATRIX - THERMOSETS] (Vol 7) -m polyester resins [POLYESTERS, UNSATURATED] (Vol 19) -soda preservatives [CARBONATED BEVERAGES] (Vol 5)... 

DMTA is a very interesting tool for characterizing heterogeneous materials in which domains of distinct Tg values coexist. The most interesting cases involve modified thermosets of different types (see Chapter 8). Examples are the use of rubbers (e.g., liquid polybutadiene and random copolymers), or thermoplastics (e.g., polyethersulphone or polyetherimide in epoxy matrices or poly(vinyl acetate) in unsaturated polyesters), as impact modifier (epoxies), or low-profile additives (polyesters). The modifier-rich phase may be characterized by the presence of a new a peak (Fig. 11.10). But on occasions there may be superposition of peaks and the presence of the modifier cannot be easily detected by these techniques. If part of the added polymer is soluble in the thermoset matrix, its eventual plasticizing effect can be determined from the corresponding matrix Tg depletion, and the... 

A polyester resin P-43 (Rohm and Haas) was selected as a matrix material. The glass fiber reinforcement was in the form of a chopped strand mat (M 700) weighing 1 Vz oz/sq ft bonded together with a high solubility polyester resin. The chopped fibers were about 2 in. long and the fiber diameter was about 0.0004 in. 

Unsaturated polyesters (UPs) crosslinked with styrene are often used as a matrix of fiber reinforced plastics. Several reports treated the degradation of the crosslinked UPs with high temperature treatment in water (1,2), acetic acid (5), alcohols including glycols (4,5), and amines (6), often in the presence of catalysts. In these literatures, recovery of polymeric materials from the crosslinked UPs was not a main objective. However, in case we can hydrolyze polyester chains selectively, linear polystyrene derivatives can be obtained as recycled materials. 

The matrix is considered to be the binder for the microspheres. Typical matrix materials include (a) thermosetting resins such as epoxy resins, unsaturated polyesters, vinyl esters, phenolics, polyurethanes, and silicones (b) thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (c) asphalt and (d) gypsiun and cement. 

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