Preparation of a self-curable unsaturated polyester with vinyl double bonds and Investigation of its self-curing properties

In this paper, a kind of self-curable unsaturated polyester PGA-UP with vinyl groups on the end of molecule chains was synthesized through esterification reaction of glycidol with acrylic acid. The self-curable function of unsaturated polyester was put forward as a new solution to air pollution problems caused by the cross-linking monomer’s volatilization in unsaturated polyesters (UP) industry. The synthetic method, reaction process, molecular structure and self-curing properties were studied. Investigation demonstrates that the unsaturated polyester resin PGA-UP could be synthesized through a two-step process and the liquid product was a mixed outcome of different extent esterification. The unsaturated polyester resin could be self-cured through the free radical reaction of vinyl groups on the end of the molecules when they were initiated by 1% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) at 80°C for 1 hours and 120°C for 2 hours with no cross-linking monomers. The intension strength of the self-cured PGA-UP is 13.5Mpa, close to the 15.6MPa of an usual unsaturated polyester S-UP made in our lab. The self-curable PGA-UP presents good potential application and the research will contribute to improve the environmental problems caused by volatile of cross-linking monomers in unsaturated polyester applications. 1H-NMR and FT-IR were used to characterize.