ENHANCED PRODUCT PROPERTIES AND PROCESS EFFICIENCY UTILIZING STYRENE FREE LOW PROFILE RESINS IN PULTRUSION APPLICATIONS

摘要

Vinyl toluene (VT), is a reactive monomer that continues to find additional applications in resins, adhesives, compounds and composites primarily as a replacement for styrene monomer (SM), either completely, as in styrene free applications or partially where reduced styrene content and low emissions are desirable While present in the market for a substantial period of time, vinyl toluene has not been widely utilized in reactive polymer resins or low-profile resins (LP) supplied into pultrusion applications.Previous work has been completed comparing pultrusion product employing a complete vinyl toluene system (Styrene Free). This work demonstrated measurable property enhancements and significant potential for enhanced productivity. (ACMA, CAMX 2017 TP 17-0029 "Alternative Reactive Polymer Chemistries In Resins For Pultrusion Processing" W Grant Richmond, Dec. 2017)This paper will provide comparative results focused on pultruded product properties obtained utilizing conventional iso polyester/LP resin systems in styrene, both Polystyrene & Polyvinyl Acetate based, versus the same iso polyester where vinyl toluene is substituted for styrene in the LP resin(s) only, thereby creating a blended monomer system. It will also investigate the effect that increased line speed has on the mechanical properties of the all styrene system versus the blended monomer system.