Unsaturated polymer resin

Binders used for polymer concrete include epoxy resins (EP), unsaturated polymer resin (UP), vinyl ester resin (VE), methyl metacrylate (MMA) and furan resins [9-11]. 

Used as fibres, particularly in textiles and film. Many other polyester polymers are of importance, e.g. unsaturated polyester resins from phthalic anhydride, propylene glycol and maleic anhydride used with reinforcement in boats, cars, etc. (alkyd resins). U.S. production 1983 1-7 megatonnes. 

Organic peroxides are used extensively for the curing of unsaturated polyester resins and the polymerization of monomers having vinyl unsaturation. The —O—O— bond is split into free radicals which can initiate polymerization or cross-linking of various monomers or polymers. 

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). 

Reactive (unsaturated) epoxy resins (qv) are reaction products of multiple glycidyl ethers of phenoHc base polymer substrates with methacrylic, acryhc, or fumaric acids. Reactive (unsaturated) polyester resins are reaction products of glycols and diacids (aromatic, aUphatic, unsaturated) esterified with acryhc or methacrylic acids (see POLYESTERS,unsaturated). Reactive polyether resins are typically poly(ethylene glycol (600) dimethacrylate) or poly(ethylene glycol (400) diacrylate) (see PoLYETPiERs). 

Sulfurized olefins (S2CI2 plus isobutene) are further reacted with S and Na2S to give products useful as extreme pressure lubricant additives (144,145). The reaction of unsaturated natural oils with sulfur monochloride gives resinous products known as Factice, which are useful as art-gum erasers and mbber additives (146,147). The addition reaction of sulfur monochloride with unsaturated polymers, eg, natural mbber, produces cross-links and thus serves as a means for vulcanizing mbber at moderate temperatures. The photochemical cross-linking of polyethylene has also been reported (148). 

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). 

Unsaturated polyester finishes of this type do not need to be stoved to effect crosslinking, but will cure at room temperature once a suitable peroxide initiator cobalt salt activator are added. The system then has a finite pot life and needs to be applied soon after mixing. Such a system is an example of a two-pack system. That is the finish is supplied in two packages to be mixed shortly before use, with obvious limitations. However, polymerisation can also be induced by ultra violet radiation or electron beam exposure when polymerisation occurs almost instantaneously. These techniques are used widely in packaging, particularly cans, for which many other unsaturated polymers, such as unsaturated acrylic resins have been devised. 

Another commercially important crosslinking process that involves unsaturated polymer precursors is the so-called drying of alkyd resins in paints. This process is not drying at all, at least not in the sense of mere loss of solvent to leave behind a solid residue. Instead, the main process is the conversion of high relative molar mass molecules to a crosslinked structure via... 

Polymer Recycling 3,No.3, 1997/98, p.173-80 UNSATURATED POLYESTER RESINS FROM POLY(ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE) WASTE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION Abdel-Azim AA Mekewi M A Gouda S R Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute Ain Shams,University Egypt,Military Technical College... 

Polymers for Advanced Technologies 6, No. 11, Nov. 1995, p.688-92 MAKING POLYMER CONCRETE AND POLYMER MORTAR USING SYNTHESISED UNSATURATED POLYESTER RESINS FROM POLY(ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE) WASTE Abdel-Azim A AA Attia IA Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute Carro,Ain Shams University... 

Low-profile additives, which control shrinkage, have emerged as a distinct science and class of additive. Unsaturated polyester resins, as do all thermosetting polymers, shrink when cured. Low-profile additives are a major class of additives used to control shrinkage, which vastly improves surface quality. This science is credited with the opening of automotive markets where surface quality is of prime importance. In exterior automotive body panels, Class A surfaces are required for market acceptance. 

Unsaturated polymers such as alkyd resins can be cured or dried in the presence of oxygen, a heavy metal, and an organic acid called a drier. The most common organic acids are linoleic, abietic, naphthenic, octoic, and tall oil fatty acids. 

Very recently, attempts have been made to develop PP/EOC TP Vs. In order to make TPVs based on PP/EOC blend systems, phenolic resin is ineffective because the latter needs the presence of a double bond to form a crosslinked network structure. Peroxides can crosslink both saturated and unsaturated polymers without any reversion characteristics. The formation of strong C-C bonds provides substantial heat resistance and good compression set properties without any discoloration. However, the activity of peroxide depends on the type of polymer and the presence of other ingredients in the system. It has been well established that PP exhibits a (3-chain scission reaction (degradation) with the addition of peroxide. Hence, the use of peroxide only is limited to the preparation of PP-based TPVs. Lai et al. [45] and Li et al. [46] studied the fracture and failure mechanism of a PP-metallocene based EOC based TPV prepared by a peroxide crosslinking system. Rajesh et al. 

In the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins the polyester is synthesized and then diluted with a vinyl reactive monomer such as styrene (see POLYESTERS, UNSATURATED). A portion of the dibasic acid of the polyester is maleic or some other vinyl reactive diacid that can be polymerized with the styrene to yield a highly cross-linked, high performance polymer system. Other esters made with propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and tripropylene glycol are used as emulsifiers in foods, as plasticizers in polymer systems, and as part of acrylate resin systems. 

STYRENE. Styrene, CgH5CH=CH2, is the simplest and by far the most important member of a series of aromatic monomers. Also known commercially as styrene monomer (SM). styrene is produced in large quantities for polymerization. It is a versatile monomer extensively used for the manufacture of plastics, including crystalline polystyrene, rubber-modified impact polystyrene, expandable polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile resins (SAN), styrene-butadiene latex, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). and unsaturated polyester resins. See also Acrylonitrile Polymers. 

VINYL ESTER RESINS. The vinyl ester resins are a relatively recent addition1 to thermosetting-polymer-chemistry. Superficially, they are similar to unsaturated polyester resins insofar as they contain ethylmic lmsaturation and are cured throngh a free-radical mechanism, usually in the presence of a vinyl monomer, such as styrene. However, close examination of the chemistry and structure of the vinyl ester resins demonstrates several basic differences which lead to their unique characteristics. 

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