Fundamentals of Polymeric Composite Materials

Manufacturing and Properties of Aramid Reinforced Composites

“…To some extent and based on the choice of constituents, preparation of composites makes it also possible to tailor other physical properties, such as electrical conductivity, mass transport properties, heat conduction, etc. [49].…”

“…Unsaturated polyesters (UP) are by far the most widely used resins in the composite industry [49]. UP resins are used in the highest volume due to their relatively low cost and good combination of thermo-mechanical properties and environmental durability.…”

“…The resulting polymeric liquid is dissolved in a reactive diluent containing carbon-carbon double bonds, such as styrene, which reduces its viscosity, making it easier to process, and acts as molecules. The curing reaction is initiated by suitable radical initiators [49].…”

“…Major advantages of vinyl ester resins with respect to UP resin is the lower susceptibility to chemical attacks and then lower cross-link density, which account for the higher strain at break. However, the volumetric shrinkage of vinyl ester resins is very high, being in the range of 5-10% (Table 8.2) [49]. For more details about unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, consult the reviews of Launikitis [50], Updegraff [51] and Cassis and Talbot [52].…”

“…Beginning from the mid-1970s, other methods for higher production rates like compression molding, resin transfer molding, pultrusion, and filament winding were developed. The reader is encouraged to consult the review on these techniques covering the stateof-the-art until 2002 given in [49] and also the broad topic reference book on polymer composite processing [100], chapters 5, 11, and 13.…”