Polyesters, unsaturated preparation

Maleate/vinyl ether formulations based on a model unsaturated polyester prepared from maleic anhydride and 1,5-pentane diol and triethylene glycol divinyl ether were studied. At molecular weights of less than about 10,000 the cured films were extremely brittle. When the equivalent weight of the unsaturated polyester was increased by replacing some of the maleic anhydride with succinic anhydride, measurable values for film elongation could be obtained but the cure speed was definitely slower. When either diethyl maleate or isobutyl vinyl ether were added as monofunctional diluents the cure dose needed to obtain 200 MEKDR was increased and the flexibility measured by pencil hardness increased as the amount of diluent was increased. A urethane vinyl ether was synthesized and used to replace DVE-3 and films with increased elongation were obtained at equivalent at dosages as low as 1 J/cm2. 

Unsaturated polyesters prepared from the intermediates in Table 12.1, formulated with various vinyl-type unsaturated monomers such as styrene, have been widely studied, patented, and discussed in the literature.Bjork-sten s book gives a good presentation of the early studies on the chemistry, production, and applications of unsaturated polyesters. 

TetrabromophthalicAnhydride. Tetrabromophthalic anhydride [632-79-1] (TBPA) is widely used as a reactive flame retardant in unsaturated polyesters as weU as the precursor to a number of other fine retardants. Polyesters prepared from this compound have relatively poor photochemical stabiUty and tend to discolor upon exposure to light. This tendency to discolor can be reduced, but not eliminated, by the use of uv stabilizers. 

Chlorendic Acid. Chlorendic acid [115-28-6] and its anhydride [115-27-5] are widely used flame retardants. Chlorendic acid is synthesized by a Diels-Alder reaction of maleic anhydride and hexachlorocyclopentadiene (see CyclopentadlENE and dicyclopentadiente) in toluene followed by hydrolysis of the anhydride using aqueous base (60). The anhydride can be isolated directly from the reaction mixture or can be prepared in a very pure form by dehydration of the acid. The principal use of chlorendic anhydride and chlorendic acid has been in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins. Because the esterification rate of chlorendic anhydride is similar to that of phthalic anhydride, it can be used in place of phthalic anhydride in commercial polyester... 

Esters. Neopentyl glycol diesters are usually Hquids or low melting soflds. Polyesters of neopentyl glycol, and in particular unsaturated polyesters, are prepared by reaction with polybasic acids at atmospheric pressure. High molecular weight linear polyesters (qv) are prepared by the reaction of neopentyl glycol and the ester (usually the methyl ester) of a dibasic acid through transesterification (37—38). The reaction is usually performed at elevated temperatures, in vacuo, in the presence of a metallic catalyst. 

Unsaturated polyester resins prepared by condensation polymerization constitute the largest industrial use for maleic anhydride. Typically, maleic anhydride is esterified with ethylene glycol [107-21-1] and a vinyl monomer or styrene is added along with an initiator such as a peroxide to produce a three-dimensional macromolecule with rigidity, insolubiUty, and mechanical strength. 

Uses. About 35% of the isophthahc acid is used to prepare unsaturated polyester resins. These are condensation products of isophthahc acid, an unsaturated dibasic acid, most likely maleic anhydride, and a glycol such as propylene glycol. The polymer is dissolved in an inhibited vinyl monomer, usually styrene with a quinone inhibitor. When this viscous hquid is treated with a catalyst, heat or free-radical initiation causes cross-linking and sohdification. A range of properties is possible depending on the reactants used and their ratios (97). 

Polymers ndResins. / fZ-Butyl peroxyneopentanoate and other peroxyesters of neopentanoic acid can be used as free-radical initiators for the polymeri2ation of vinyl chloride [75-01-4] (38) or of ethylene [74-85-1]. These peresters have also been used in the preparation of ethylene—vinyl acetate copolymers [24937-78-8] (39), modified polyester granules (40), graft polymers of arninoalkyl acrylates with vinyl chloride resins (41), and copolymers of A/-vinyl-pyrrohdinone [88-12-0] and vinyl acetate [108-05-4] (42). They can also be used as curing agents for unsaturated polyesters (43). 

Because of analogy of radical formation by iron(II) ion from either peroxides or oxaziridines, the latter were proposed repeatedly as initiators of radical chains, e.g. in styrene polymerization and in treatment of unsaturated polyesters. Oxaziridines appear to be easier to prepare than peroxides and to be less hazardous in handling (76MI50801). 

Over the years many blends of polyurethanes with other polymers have been prepared. One recent example is the blending of polyurethane intermediates with methyl methacrylate monomer and some unsaturated polyester resin. With a suitable balance of catalysts and initiators, addition and rearrangement reactions occur simultaneously but independently to give interpenetrating polymer networks. The use of the acrylic monomer lowers cost and viscosity whilst blends with 20% (MMA + polyester) have a superior impact strength. 

As small molecule fragments resulting from the initiator may plasticize the polymer and lower performance, approaches have been developed to avoid this. A dihydroxyamine can be used to form a polyester [52]. This accelerator gave a modest increase in the strength of unsaturated polyester resins. A polymerizable tertiary amine has been prepared by the reaction of A-methylaniline with glycidyl methacrylate [53] (Scheme 8). 

Phthalic anhydride, a polyol, and an unsaturated fatty acid are usually copolymerized to unsaturated polyesters for coating purposes. Many other combinations in variable ratios are possible for preparing these resins. The 1998 U.S. production of polyesters was approximately 1.7 billion pounds. 

Polyester-based networks are typically prepared from polyester prepolymers bearing unsaturations which can be crosslinked. The crosslinking process is either an autoxidation in the presence of air oxygen (alkyd resins) or a copolymerization with unsaturated comonomers in the presence of radical initiators (unsaturated polyester resins). It should also be mentioned that hydroxy-terminated saturated polyesters are one of the basis prepolymers used in polyurethane network preparation (see Chapter 5). 

Although low-molar-mass aliphatic polyesters and unsaturated polyesters can be synthesized without added catalyst (see Sections 2.4.1.1.1 and 2.4.2.1), the presence of a catalyst is generally required for the preparation of high-molar-mass polyesters. Strong acids are very efficient polyesterification catalysts but also catalyze a number of side reactions at elevated temperature (>160°C), leading to polymers of inferior quality. Acid catalysts are, therefore, not much used. An exception is the bulk synthesis of hyperbranched polyesters reported in Section 2.4.5.1, which is carried out at moderate temperature (140°C) under vacuum in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid catalyst. The use of strongly acidic oil-soluble catalysts has also been reported for the low-temperature synthesis of polyester oligomers in water-in-oil emulsions.216... 

Preparation and Cure of Unsaturated Polyester/Styrene Resin... 

Unsaturated polyesters (UPs), 4, 18, 19 from PET waste, 560-561 Unsaturated polyester/styrene resin, preparation and cure of, 101 Unsaturated polyester thermosetting resins, syntheses of, 101-103 Unstirred interfacial process, 155 U-Polymer, 77... 

Unsaturated polyester resins (UPRs) Uralkyd resins, 202 Urea-methylol reaction, 410 Urethane alkyds, 241 Urethane coatings, 202 Urethane elastomers, implanted, 207 Urethane foams, tests for, 244 Urethane gels, 205 Urethane-grade ATPEs, 223 Urethane-grade polyol types, 212 Urethane-grade raw materials, 246 Urethane hydrogel, preparation of, 250-251... 

A pyrolysis technique was investigated as a method for the chemical recycling of glass fibre-reinforced unsaturated polyester SMC composites. The proeess yielded liquid products and gases and also a solid residue formed in the pyrolysis of glass fibres and fillers. The solid residue was used as a reinforeement/filler in unsaturated polyester BMC composites, and the influenee on mechanical properties was studied in comparison with BMC prepared entirely from virgin materials. 

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. 

By emulsion copolymerization (ECP) of self-emulsifying unsaturated polyesters (EUP) and bifunctional monomers, such as styrene (S), microgels may be prepared which have a rather uniform diameter [109]. This uniformity of size is due to a special mechanism of particle formation involved in using EUP as comonomers. 

Fig. 12. Preparation of different emulsions of self-emulsifying unsaturated polyesters (EUP) and comonomers.

Microgels which have been prepared in emulsions or microemulsion have a more compact structure than those obtained by polymerization in solution. For microemulsion copolymerization, preferentially self-emulsifying comonomers, such as unsaturated polyesters, are used as polymerizable surfactants, because no emulsifier must be removed after the reaction. By choosing suitable monomer combinations the composition, size and structure of microgels can be widely varied, thus adjusting these macromolecules to special applications. 

The chemicals used in syntheses were used as received from the supplier. The unsaturated polyesters were prepared by standard methods from the diacids and diols using butyl stannoic acid (Fascat 4100) as the catalyst. The water of condensation removed using a xylene azeotrope and after reaching the desired acid value the xylene was removed by distillation. The synthesis of unsaturated polyester A is representative. 

Synthesis of Unsaturated Polyester A. The unsaturated polyester oligomer A was prepared in a 500 milliliter 4-neck flask fitted with a variable speed stirrer, a heating mantle, a gas inlet tube, a thermometer, a Dean-Starke trap and a condenser. The flask was charged with 147.0 g (1.5 mol) of maleic anhydride (Amoco), 195 g (1.88 mol) of 1,5-pentane diol (BASF), about 35 ml of xylene and 0.3 g of Fascat 4100. Then heated slowly under a nitrogen blanket to 175° C while the water of condensation was removed... 

Variation of Polyester Molecular Weight. A series of unsaturated polyester (UPE) oligomers were prepared by reacting maleic anhydride with 1,5-pentane diol. (Scheme... 

Variation of Equivalent Weight. In an attempt to produce more flexible coatings, the UPE A formulation was modified to increase the equivalent weight by substituting succinic anhydride for a portion of the maleic anhydride. These unsaturated polyesters were prepared by the same method as above and the compositions and their properties are summarized in Table II. 

Linear unsaturated polyesters contain aliphatic unsaturation that can result in subsequent cross-linking. The first such product was prepared in 1946 by the condensation of maleic anhydride... 

P.R.164 was also found in cast resin composed of methacrylate and unsaturated polyester. The pigment does not affect the hardening process of such media, which may be carried out, for instance, by using peroxides. An important field of application was in the coloration of various polyurethanes, for which the pigment was also sold in the form of a pigment preparation. 

Finally, glass-reinforced unsaturated polyesters are well known as building materials for boats, yachts and cars and generally termed fibre-glass resin . The preparation, properties and applications of these unsaturated polyesters are summarized in Chapter 21, while the chemistry and properties of a new unsaturated polyester resin for fibre-reinforced composite materials are discussed in Chapter 22. 

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