Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.65, No.1, 77-83, 1997
Cross-Linking of Unsaturated Polyester Resins Studied by Low-Resolution H-1-NMR Spectroscopy
The curing behavior of five unsaturated polyester resins with different molar ratios of styrene to the double bonds in the polyester chain (MR) was investigated. The gel time was measured according to a standard method by the Society of the Plastic Industry (SPI) and by low-resolution pulse nuclear magnetic resonance (LRP-NMR). The gel and curing times decreased and the maximum temperature of the reaction increased when the MR was decreased. The proton mobilities and populations were measured by LRP-NMR. Three components could be seen in the crosslinking reaction : styrene (very mobile, T-2 congruent to 3 s), free polyester polymers (less mobile, T-2 congruent to 150 ms), and cured resin (immobile, T-2 congruent to 0.04 ms). The third component, cured resin, could be detected at the gel point. At this point, the proton mobilities of styrene and free polyester polymers were rapidly decreasing and the proton populations of the cured resin started to increase.