Vinylester
Encyclopedia
Vinyl Ester, or Vinylester, is a resin produced by the esterification of an epoxy
resin with an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid
. The reaction product is then dissolved in a reactive solvent, such as styrene, to a 35 - 45 percent content by weight.
It can be used as an alternative to polyester
and epoxy
materials in matrix or composite materials
, where its characteristics, strengths, and bulk cost intermediate between polyester and epoxy. Vinyl ester has lower resin viscosity (approx 200 cps) than polyester (approx 500cps) and epoxy (approx 900cps).
In homebuilt airplanes, the Glasair and Glastar kit planes made extensive use of vinylester-reinforced fiberglass
structures. It is a common resin in the marine industry due to its increased corrosion resistance and ability to withstand water absorption. Vinyl ester resin is extensively used to manufacture FRP tanks and vessels
as per BS4994
.
Epoxy
Epoxy, also known as polyepoxide, is a thermosetting polymer formed from reaction of an epoxide "resin" with polyamine "hardener". Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including fiber-reinforced plastic materials and general purpose adhesives....
resin with an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid
Carboxylic acid
Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of at least one carboxyl group. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is R-COOH, where R is some monovalent functional group...
. The reaction product is then dissolved in a reactive solvent, such as styrene, to a 35 - 45 percent content by weight.
It can be used as an alternative to polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
and epoxy
Epoxy
Epoxy, also known as polyepoxide, is a thermosetting polymer formed from reaction of an epoxide "resin" with polyamine "hardener". Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including fiber-reinforced plastic materials and general purpose adhesives....
materials in matrix or composite materials
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
, where its characteristics, strengths, and bulk cost intermediate between polyester and epoxy. Vinyl ester has lower resin viscosity (approx 200 cps) than polyester (approx 500cps) and epoxy (approx 900cps).
In homebuilt airplanes, the Glasair and Glastar kit planes made extensive use of vinylester-reinforced fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
structures. It is a common resin in the marine industry due to its increased corrosion resistance and ability to withstand water absorption. Vinyl ester resin is extensively used to manufacture FRP tanks and vessels
FRP tanks and vessels
FRP is a modern composite material of construction for chemical plant equipment like tanks and vessels...
as per BS4994
BS4994
BS4994 is the "specification for the design and construction of vessels and storage tanks in reinforced plastics"...
.
Sources
- ResinNavigator.org's Epoxy-based vinyl esters benefits