GB952302A - Curing unsaturated polyester resins - Google Patents

Abstract

Unsaturated polyester resins are cured using organic peroxides as polymerization initiators and tertiary aromatic amines containing one or more b -a -epoxypropyl groups as polymerization activators. Activators specified are N, N-dimethyl-p-(5-a -epoxypropylaniline; N-butyl-N-ethyl-M-aminobenzoic acid-b -a -epoxypropyl ester; N-methyl-N-(b -hydroxy)-p-aminobenzoic acid-b -a -epoxypropyl ester and the b -a -epoxypropyl ether of this compound; N, N-diethyl-m-aminophenyl-b -a -epoxypropyl ether; N-methyl-N-(b -a -epoxy-propyl)-aniline; N-methyl-N-(b -a -epoxypropyl)-p-toluidine; N, N-di-(b -a -epoxypropyl)-aniline; N-butyl-N-(b -a -epoxypropyl)-aniline; N-(b -hydroxyethyl)-N-(b -a -epoxypropyl)-aniline and the b -a -epoxypropyl ether of this compound; N, N-di-(b -a -epoxypropyl)-p-toluidine and bis [N-methyl-N- (b -a -epoxypropyl)-p-aminophenyl] methane. Mixtures of the above amines may be used; if desired together with other amines. The amount of amine is generally 0.01 to 5% by weight (based on the total amount of resin). The usual inhibitors may be present and the preferred organic peroxides are diacyl ones. In the example the polyester is prepared from maleic and phthalic anhydrides and propylene glycol and it is mixed with styrene and hydroquinone and then cured with dibenzoyl peroxide and a tertiary amine. The cured polymers may be used, with or without the use of fillers &c., to prepare castings, floor coverings, seating layers on metals, concrete and stone, laminates reinforced by glass fibres, hulls, parts of aircraft and vehicle bodies and storage tanks.