Published By: SME
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This chapter examines the following: introduction, vinyl esters, phenolics, carbon matrix, polyimides and related polymers, cyanate esters, polyurethanes, silicones, and Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). Although the composites market is dominated by unsaturated polyesters and epoxies, several specialty resins are used for applications in which the properties of the polyesters and epoxies are not quite appropriate. Even though specialty resins only represent about 20% of the total composites market, their contributions are important because of the criticality of some products that can only be made with these resins. Vinyl esters are a family of thermosetting resins that have many similarities to, and seem to fit between, both unsaturated polyesters and epoxies. The specialty and high-performance thermosets are used when environmental conditions are severe.
By Philip D Rufe, CMfgE
By Ahmad K Elshennawy, Gamal S Weheba, PhD