Influence of functional rubbers on the curing process of unsaturated polyester resins

The influence of an elastomeric second-phase on the kinetics of the curing reaction and the gel-time of a standard unsaturated polyester resin, by using the isothermal and dynamic techniques of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a thermocouple was investigated. In particular we examined two different rubbers (polybutadiene hydroxyl-terminated and polybutadiene isocyanate-terminated), that, in the presence of polyester resins, affect the overall curing reaction kinetics in two ways: the former reduces the rate of reaction whilst the latter increases it.