PROCESS FOR PREPARING A FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITE AND MOLDED ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM

摘要

A vacuum-assisted transfer molding process for preparing a fiber-reinforced thermosetting polyester composite, the said composite comprising reinforcing fiber in excess of 30 wt %, based upon the weight of the composite, in a thermoset polyester matrix. The said thermoset polyester matrix is prepared from a one-phase matrix precursor comprising, in weight percent based upon the weight of the matrix precursor, from: (a) 20 to 60 % of an unsaturated polyester resin with a molecular weight/double bond factor between 150 and 190; (b) 30 to 70 % of a reactive monomer; (c) 1 to 25% of a thermoplastic polymer which is miscible in a blend of the polyester resin and the reactive monomer; and (d) an initiating amount of a free radical initiator. Application to the manufacture of molded articles, such as boat hulls or truck body panels, comprising a composite made according to the above process, a gel coat and a skin laminate.