Polyester Chemistry
Step 2: Crosslink polyester polymer with unsaturated styrene.
- Addition (free radical) reaction to connect polyester with styrene
- Use a peroxide (free radical) to open the unsaturated bond to form saturation
- One reaction starts, the other unsaturated bonds open up and react with the styrene to form a saturated polymer.
- The ends of the polyester-styrene crosslinked polymer has peroxide end-groups.
- Peroxide is an initiator and not a catalyst since it is consumed in reaction. Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and can be retrieved at the end of it.