Polyester Chemistry
Unsaturated Polyesters
- Thermoset reaction between a difunctional acid (or anhydride) and a difunctional alcohol (glycol)
- At least some of the acid (or anhydride) features double bonds between adjacent carbon atoms for unsaturation.
- Characteristic ester linkages are formed, hence the name Polyester
C6H4(COOH)2 + (CH2)2(OH)2 -[(CH2)2 -O- C - C-O]-
terephthalic acid + ethylene glycol Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
-
- Acids include: maleic, fumaric, isophthalic, terphthalic, adipic, etc.
- Anhydrides include: maleic, phthalic
- Glycols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol
-