Interactions of water with unsaturated polyester, vinyl ester and acrylic resins

The effects of water absorption on an ester vinyl resin system

“…For instance, the presence of humidity is pointed out as one of the main causes of polymeric composites failure since organic matrices can be largely affected by the presence of water 1,2 . In tropical environments, relative humidity close to 90% can be found and can drastically compromise composite performance.…”

“…In tropical environments, relative humidity close to 90% can be found and can drastically compromise composite performance. Therefore, the knowledge of the organic matrix limitations and ageing mechanisms in the presence of water is critical in order to guarantee successful composite application, since water diffusion is well known to be a limiting factor in the use of fiber reinforced polymer composites 2 . When selecting a polymeric resin for use in a structural composite several factors must be considered, namely, strength, stiffness, toughness and durability.…”

“…For all these reasons they are suitable for using as matrix of polymeric composites 3 . The effect of water absorption on resins used as matrixes for composite applications, including the vinyl ester, has been studied by several authors 2,4,5 . All of them have observed damaging effects and the nature of damage itself, whose degree and intensity depend on the type of resin, temperature, type and amount of initiator, post-cure treatment, among others, what turns the evaluation very complex, since processing and environment plays a crucial role on how resistant the polymeric material will be.…”

“…Studies have shown that weight loss during to exposure to water is affected by type and amount of initiator, the post-curing treatment, relative humidity and temperature 2,[4][5][6] . Post-curing treatment reduces weight loss significantly while higher temperatures and relative humidity increases the weight loss rate.…”

Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance of Halloysite Nanoclay-Polyester Nanocomposites

“…The final image before fracture gave the highest deformation and was measured using ImageJ software. In this research the polyester resins was used since it is one of the most commonly used thermosetting polymers because of their low cost and versatility [30] [31] [32] [33]. On the other hand, methanol is always a desirable choice as a transportation fuel due to its efficient combustion, ease of availability and distribution [24] [34].…”