Water-extended polyester

The applications of the unsaturated polyester resins were increased in the late 1960s by the introduction of water-extended polyesters. In these materials water is dispersed into the resin in very tiny droplets (ca 2-5 p.m diameter). Up to 90% of the system can consist of water but more commonly about equal parts of resin and water are used. The water component has two basic virtues in this system it is very cheap and because of its high specific heat it is a good heat sink for moderating cure exotherms and also giving good heat shielding properties of interest in ablation studies. 

The basic patent (US Patent 3256219) indicates that the system is viable with conventional resins although special grades have been developed that are said to be particularly suitable. One example in the patent recommends the use of a polyester prepared using a maleic acid, phthalic acid and propylene glycol ratio of 2 1 33 and with an acid value of 40. To 500g of such a resin are added 10g of benzoyl peroxide and 167 g of styrene. Water 600 g is then stirred in at 5-10°C until a white creamy water-in-oil emulsion is obtained. A solution of 0.8 g of dimethyl-p-toluidine in lOOg of styrene is stirred into the emulsion and the resin is cast between plates and cured at 50°C. 

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Oliver, G. D., Jr. Moore, E. B. "Neutron Shielding Qualities of Water-Extended Polyesters," Health Physics,... 

Aropol WEP, Water-extended polyester resin, Ashland Chemical Co., Composite Polymers Div. 

A recent and highly interesting use of non-FRP is Ashland s water-extendible polyester (WEP ), an emulsion of water droplets in polyester resinAfter curing, the water remains as a nonreinforcing filler. The cost of the material is quite low, due to the incorporation of a large amount of water. WEP materials have been evaluated in many applications, including the encapsulation of waste radioactive materials and production of laminates.However, the most suitable uses appear to be the plaque and statuary areas. Funke et recently reported on a procedure for emulsion... 

Extenders. Materials used in chernical formulations to add bulk or volume and reduce cost.. Extenders range from materials like sawdust, glass fibers, and oils used to add bulk to phenolic resins to water held in a matnx, extending polyester resins. 

Fillers. Fillers are particulate materials whose major ftmction often is simply to extend the polymer and thereby reduce the cost of the plastic compound. One of the earliest examples of a filler is the wood flour (fime sawdust) long used in phenolics and other thermosets. Calcium carbonate is used in a variety of plastics and polypropylene is often filled with talc. Even water has been used to extend polyester casting compounds. 

Dicylopentadiene Resins. Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) can be used as a reactive component in polyester resins in two distinct reactions with maleic anhydride (7). The addition reaction of maleic anhydride in the presence of an equivalent of water produces a dicyclopentadiene acid maleate that can condense with ethylene or diethylene glycol to form low molecular weight, highly reactive resins. These resins, introduced commercially in 1980, have largely displaced OfXv o-phthahc resins in marine apphcations because of beneficial shrinkage properties that reduce surface profile. The inherent low viscosity of these polymers also allows for the use of high levels of fillers, such as alumina tfihydrate, to extend the resin-enhancing, fiame-retardant properties for apphcation in bathtub products (Table 4). 

To improve the rheological properties and extend the very short working time, a simple polyester is kicluded as thinner. Mixing is easy, and dimensional change ki ak is less than 0.1% over several hours. Elastic recovery and reproduction of detail are exceUent. The elastomeric cycHc imine impression materials have a higher modulus of elasticity than the condensation siHcone or polysulfide mbbers, and are more difficult to remove from the mouth. The materials have relatively low tear strength and an equUibrium water sorption of 14% thus, polyether impression materials tear readily. Because of thek poor dimensional stabUity ki water, they should be stored ki a dry environment. 

These materials, when exposed to continuous high humidity, especially in the presence of an electrical field, hydrolyze into the acid and alcohol precursors from which they are made. The acid plus water present make a conductive material that will cause the material to short the electrical circuit. The process by which the decomposition of the TS polyester takes place is very gradual at first and then accelerates so that extended testing of the material is necessary to be sure that the particular polyester composition used is resistant to hydrolytic degradation. 

EXTENDER. A low-graxily material used in paint, ink. plastic, and rubber formulations chiefly to reduce cost per unit volume by increasing bulk, Extenders include dialomaccou.s earth, wood flock, mineral rubber, liquid asphalt, etc. Microscopic droplets of water fixed permanently in a plastic matrix are an efficient extender tor polyester resins. In the food industry, the term refers to certain extruded proteins, especially those derived from soybeans, which are used in meat products to provide equivalent nutrient values at lower cost. Made from defatted soy flour, they are often called textured proteins. 

Metal specimens coated with the various blends were immersed in water in an accelerated test to determine the effect of high humidity. Cellulose acetate butyrate blends containing carboxylated polyesters prepared with hexahydroterephthalic acid [H(NPG), T50H(NPG)] were particularly susceptible to moisture and failed the adhesion test after immersion for only 0.5 hour similar blends containing T50I(NPG) extended with dianhydride Via or with PMDA passed the adhesion test after immersion for 16 hours. When coatings on cold-rolled steel of cellulose acetate butyrate (EAB-381-0.5) blends containing 1% of each of the... 

Among the new being consider for reactive processing into polyurethane-based materials, the so-called polyester amines, in combination with chain extenders, which also contain amine groups, are especially promising.19 Using these materials allows the synthesis of polymers with polyurea instead of polyurethane bonds. This results in materials with improved impact strength and lower water absorption. 

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