Liquid fragility of the unsaturated polyester resin

Curing behaviors of the unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) containing 1–1.8 wt% methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) initiator are investigated. The viscosity, gelation and vitrification transition of the UPR-MEKP systems are examined using the rotating viscometer and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A liquid fragility parameter, Mc, defined as the viscosity variation rate of the liquids towards the curing temperature is presented. It is found that Mc has a good negative relation with the glass transition temperature (Tg) in the systems. Mc can be used for predicting the stability of the cured amorphous systems. The relationship between the liquid and cured thermoset polymer systems is studied from both the thermodynamic and kinetic point of view.