Title: New Developments on Reduced Styrene and Styrene-Free Unsaturated Polyester and Vinyl Ester Formulations

Authors: Edgardo M. Hernández, Christopher J. Nash, Zachary S. Dowd, Stephen Harmon, Todd D. Maybon, Luciana F. Kinnin, Graham Guthrie, David M. McCarthy, Allison L. Swilley

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/c.24.0255

Abstract: For the last 80 years, styrene has provided tremendous benefit to the composites industry, particularly within unsaturated polyester (UPR) and vinyl ester (VER) resins. With the advent of a more stringent regulatory framework around styrene, the industry will likely be presented with a challenge to meet reduced exposure limits. It is evident that in order to ameliorate the impact of such regulations on composite manufacturers, new chemistries will need to be developed and styrene utilization reduced. Hereby a series of products ranging from reduced styrene content and styrene-free resins to novel hybrid chemistries is presented. Both the reduced styrene content and styrene-free resin analogs, exhibit similar mechanical performance and liquid properties compared to styrenated counterparts. Likewise, styrene-free hybrid resins are compatible with existing fabrication methods and showcase excellent mechanical performance and acceptable liquid properties, matching currently commercially available materials.

References: 1. Nagavally, Rahul R.. “Composite materials – history, types, fabrication techniques, advantages, and applications”. International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering 5(9) (2017): 82-87. 2. California Code of Regulations. Title 8 Section 5155. “Airborne Contaminants”. 9 June 2021. <https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5155.html> 3. Ligo, Samuel C.. “Strategies to reduce oxygen inhibition in photoinduced polymerization”. Chemical Reviews 114(1) (2014). 557-589.

Conference: CAMX 2024 | San Diego CA

Publication Date: 2024/9/9

SKU: TP24-0000000255

Pages: 12

Price: $24.00