Study on Synthesis of Unsaturated Polyester Resin with Improved Characteristics and Application in Artificial Stones

Abstract

The unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) used in artificial stones is a special grade, which should satisfy all technical requirements. To synthesize this UPR, the new temperature program has been established according to fuse balance polycondensation method at maximum temperature at 200oC. This temperature program showed high stability, safety, and good reproducibility. The UPR properties respond to all technical requirements. Experiment showed, the most important requirement is keeping molar ratio (-OH): (-COOH) = 1,1 : 1,0. The physico-mechanical properties of artificial stone, using synthezied UPR – PHX (Sample S1) and commercial UPR – SHCP (Sample S2) indicated that mechanical properties of S1 is higher than that of S2. FESEM images show that  S1 and S2’s morphology have UPR matrix iniformly distributed in a inorganic filler without phase separation at interphase.