COMPOSITES OF WOOD AND UNSATURATED POLYESTERS

The reinforcement of unsaturated polyesters (UPs) was attempted with woody fillers. The effects of the chemical structures of UPs and crosslinking agents on the mechanical properties of composites were examined, and the reinforcing effect of the woody fillers treated with maleic anhydride (MAH) was studied. It was found that bisphenol A-based polyester resins have a good affinity with woody filler, resulting in excellent composites. The mechanical properties of the composites were affected largely by the characteristics of the crosslinking agents. Multifunctional crosslinking agents confer good properties on the composites. Treatments of woody fillers with MAH during the kneading processes, which introduce a double bond containing substituting groups on the surfaces of the woody fillers, resulted in an enhancement of the mechanical properties of the composites thus prepared.