Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Shrinkage and mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester reinforced with clay and core–shell rubber

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Polymer Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Glassy unsaturated polyester (UP) resin was reinforced using an organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) and toughened with core–shell rubber (CSR) particles. The nanostructure, morphology, and deformation mechanism of composite specimens were studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and reflected optical microscopy (ROM). An intercalated nanostructure with partial exfoliation was observed in the UP reinforced by various amounts of OMMT. Locally clustered but globally good CSR particle dispersion in the UP matrix was evident in UP toughened with 5 and 10 wt% CSR particles. Simultaneous presence of OMMT and CSR particles in UP/OMMT/CSR hybrid composites was found to cause partial phase separation with bigger rubber particle agglomerates and lower clay-intergallery height increase. The effects of OMMT and CSR contents on volume shrinkage, impact fracture energy, fracture toughness, and compressive yield strength of UP were investigated. The introduction of OMMT of up to 3 wt% into the UP matrix lowered volume shrinkage to some extent, while further addition increased the shrinkage slightly. In the hybrid nanocomposites, the volume shrinkage decreased to a minimum level of 5.2 % with increases in OMMT level. The impact fracture energy of UP improved with increasing the OMMT level of up to 3 wt%, whereas its further addition decreased the impact fracture energy slightly due to the clay particle agglomeration. The hybrid composites with OMMT level below 3 wt% showed higher impact fracture energy compared to the reinforced UP specimens with the same OMMT levels. Interestingly, a synergism in the fracture toughness (K IC) was observed in the hybrid composite containing 1 wt% OMMT and 10 wt% CSR particles. The presence of OMMT as reinforcement in the hybrid composites could compensate the lowering of the compressive yield strength caused by low-modulus CSR particles. The clay–rubber particle interaction in the hybrid systems seems to increase the threshold of shear deformation of the UP matrix to some extent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yang YS, Lee LJ (1988) Microstructure formation in the cure of unsaturated polyester resins. Polymer 29:1793–1800

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Li W, Lee L (2000) Low temperature cure of unsaturated polyester resins with thermoplastic additives. II. Structure formation and shrinkage control mechanism. Polymer 41:697–710

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Li W, Lee LJ (1998) Shrinkage control of low-profile unsaturated polyester resins cured at low temperature. Polymer 39:5677–5687

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Al-Khanbashi A, El-Gamal M, Moet A (2005) Reduced shrinkage polyester–montmorillonite nanocomposite. J Appl Polym Sci 98:767–773

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Morote-Martínez V, Torregrosa-Coque R, Martín-Martínez JM (2011) Addition of unmodified nanoclay to improve the performance of unsaturated polyester resin coating on natural stone. Int J Adhes 31:154–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Beheshty MH, Vafayan M, Poorabdollah M (2006) Shrinkage control and kinetics behaviour of clay-unsaturated polyester nanocomposites. Iran Polym J 15:841–849

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tsai TY, Kuo CH, Chen WC, Hsu CH (2010) Reducing the print-through phenomenon and increasing the curing degree of UP/ST/organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites. Appl Clay Sci 49:224–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Huang YJ, Horng JC (1998) Effects of thermoplastic additives on mechanical properties and glass transition temperatures for styrene-crosslinked low-shrink polyester matrices. Polymer 39:3683–3695

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hisham SF, Ahmad I, Daik R, Ramli A (2011) Blends of LNR with unsaturated polyester resin from recycled PET: comparison of mechanical properties and morphological analysis with the optimum blend by commercial resin. Sains Malaysiana 40:729–735

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Suspene L, Gerard JF, Pascault JP (1990) Morphology of unsaturated polyester resin-additive blends. Polym Eng Sci 30:1585–1590

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ahmadi M, Moghbeli MR, Shokrieh MM (2012) Rubber modification of unsaturated polyester resin with core–shell rubber particles: effect of shell composition. Polym Eng Sci 52:1928–1937

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Becu L, Maazouz A, Sautereau H, Gerard JF (1997) Fracture behavior of epoxy polymers modified with core–shell rubber particles. J Appl Polym Sci 65:2419–2431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Roberts, K. N.: An investigation of core–shell rubber modified vinyl ester resins. Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia 2002

  14. Inceoglu AB, Yilmazer U (2003) Synthesis and mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester based nanocomposites. Polym Eng Sci 43:661–669

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Beheshty MH, Vafayan M, Poorabdollah M (2009) Low profile unsaturated polyester resin–clay nanocomposite properties. Polym Compos 30:629–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Xu L, Lee LJ (2004) Effect of nanoclay on shrinkage control of low profile unsaturated polyester (UP) resin cured at room temperature. Polymer 45:7325–7334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ahmad I, Hassan FM (2010) Preparation of unsaturated polyester liquid natural rubber reinforced by montmorillonite. J Reinf Plast Compos 29:2834–2841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Moghbeli MR, Bakhshandeh F, Ahmadi M (2011) Poly(n-butyl acrylate)/poly(vinyl acetate-co-methyl methacrylate) structural rubber latex particles as impact modifier for unsaturated polyester resin: preparation and characterization. Iran Polym J 20:607–617

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Tolle TB, Anderson DP (2002) Morphology development in layered silicate thermoset nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol 62:1033–1041

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Yang H, Lee LJ (2002) Effects of resin chemistry on redox polymerization of unsaturated polyester resins. J Appl Polym Sci 84:211–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Harpaz IM, Narkis M, Siegmann A (2007) Peroxide crosslinking of a styrene-free unsaturated polyester. J Appl Polym Sci 105:885–892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Irwin GR (1964) Structural aspects of brittle fracture. Appl Mater Res 3:65–81

    Google Scholar 

  23. Yoonessi M, Toghiani H, Kingery WL, Pittman CU (2004) Preparation, characterization, and properties of exfoliated/delaminated organically modified clay/dicyclopentadiene resin nanocomposites. Macromolecules 37:2511–2518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Marouf BT, Pearson RA, Bagheri R (2009) Anomalous fracture behavior in an epoxy-based hybrid composite. Mater Sci Eng A 515:49–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Huang YJ, Su CH (1995) Effects of poly(viny1 acetate) and poly(methyl methacrylate) low-profile additives on the curing of unsaturated polyester resins. 1. Curing kinetics by DSC and FTIR. J Appl Polym Sci 55:305–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Akbari B, Bagheri R (2007) Deformation mechanism of epoxy/clay nanocomposite. Eur Polym J 43:782–788

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Zerda AS, Lesser AJ (2001) Intercalated clay nanocomposites: morphology, mechanics, and fracture behavior. J Polym Sci B Polym Phys 39:1137–1146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Partial financial support from the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative and vise-president for research and technology of Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) is gratefully appreciated. The authors acknowledge Prof. Reza Bagheri due to his useful discussion in deformation mechanism studies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), PO Box 16844-13114, Tehran, Iran

    Morteza Ahmadi & Mohammad Reza Moghbeli

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), PO Box 16844-13114, Tehran, Iran

    Mahmood M. Shokrieh

Authors
  1. Morteza Ahmadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammad Reza Moghbeli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mahmood M. Shokrieh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Reza Moghbeli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ahmadi, M., Moghbeli, M.R. & Shokrieh, M.M. Shrinkage and mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester reinforced with clay and core–shell rubber. Iran Polym J 21, 855–868 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-012-0090-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-012-0090-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation