Comparison of unsaturated polyester and vinylester resins in low temperature polymerization

Many composite products are produced at low temperatures in processes such as resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum infusion molding (e.g., Seemann Composite Resin Infusion Molding Process - SCRIMP), and hand lay-up. These processes are widely used for marine, civil infrastructure, transportation and defense applications. Unsaturated polyester and vinylester resins are two major resins used in these processes due to their low cost, good performance, and processibility. In this study, the reaction kinetics and rheological changes of these two resins cured at low temperatures were studied. Effects of resin type, initiator, promoter, inhibitor and retarder on the reaction kinetics and rheological behaviors were examined using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and a Rheometrics Dynamic Analyzer (RDA). A model was developed to quantify the effects of resin type, temperature, and different curing agents on the gel time for both polyester and vinylester resins cured at low temperatures.