Unsaturated Polyester Resins: Chemistry and Technology

Results of investigations on novel formulations, structure-property relationships, curing, and compositions with fillers and reinforcing fibers (1997--2004) are reviewed with about 200 references to articles and several references to patents. The following topics are considered in particular: novel dibasic acids, glycols, crosslinking monomers, and curing systems, “vinyl ester” resins, fire retardant materials, IPNs and other systems comprising built-in thermoplastic polymers and oligomers with terminal functional groups. Information on unsaturated polyesters manufactured using PET scrap is given. Analytical (mainly spectrometric) methods for studying the chemical structure of crosslinked unsaturated polyester resins are presented. Approaches to the decrease in styrene emission on processing of unsaturated polyester resins are also discussed.