Mechanism of Low Profile Behavior in Unsaturated Polyester Systems

Abstract
The mechanism of low profile, low shrink behavior in single- and two-phase unsaturated polyester systems has been investigated. The curing process of several compositions has been followed by optical microscopy at various heating rates, fracture surfaces of cured samples have been observed using scanning electron microscopy and some of their physical properties have been measured. A mechanism is proposed, based on data obtained in this work and additional published data, which consists of shrinkage reduction in the continuous phase by thermal expansion of styrene and other constituents and in the dispersed phase by void formation.

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