Vinyl Ester Resins

Vinyl ester resins

Vinyl esters were developed to combine the advantages of epoxy resins with the better handling/faster cure, which are typical for unsaturated polyester resins. These resins are produced by reacting epoxy resin with acrylic or methacrylic acid. This provides an unsaturated site, much like that produced in polyester resins when maleic anhydride is used. The resulting material is dissolved in styrene to yield a liquid that is similar to polyester resin. Vinyl esters are also cured with the conventional organic peroxides used with polyester resins (normally MEKP). Vinyl esters offer mechanical toughness and excellent corrosion resistance. These enhanced properties are obtained without complex processing, handling or special shop fabricating practices that are typical with epoxy resins.

Features: Higher chemical resistance and better physical properties than polyester resins. Better handling properties than epoxy and polyester resins. Excellent resistance to fatigue. Good impregnation of the reinforcements. Good adhesion to the reinforcing fibers. Resistant to corrosion, even in hot water. Good fire resistance. Laminatins with high resistance to water and harsh chemicals.Fast curing. Optimum performance is achieved when the laminatins are postcured at high temperatures (> 100 ºC). Very used in the construction of composite tools.