REACTIVE DILUENTS, METHODS OF REACTING, AND THERMOSET POLYMERS DERIVED THEREFROM
A thermosetting composition comprises in combination an ethylenically unsaturated polymer, and a lactone reactive diluent of the formula wherein b=0 or 1. A method of manufacture of a thermoset polymer comprises reacting the unsaturated polymer and the lactone to form the thermoset polymer. The thermoset polymers are described, as well as articles comprising the thermoset polymers.
1 . A thermosetting composition, comprising in combination
an ethylenically unsaturated polymer, and
a lactone reactive diluent of the formula
wherein b=0 or 1.
2 . The thermosetting composition of claim 1 , wherein the unsaturated polymer is an unsaturated polyester or an unsaturated epoxy.
3 . The thermosetting composition of claim 1 , wherein the lactone reactive diluent is
α-methylene-γ-valerolactone
α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone
or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing lactone reactive diluents.
4 . The thermosetting composition of claim 1 , further comprising an additional reactive diluent different from the lactone reactive diluent.
5 . The thermosetting composition of claim 1 , further comprising an initiator and an accelerator.
6 . The thermosetting composition of claim 1 , further comprising a particulate filler.
7 . The thermosetting composition of claim 1 , further comprising reinforcing fibers.
8 . A method of manufacture of a thermoset polymer, the method comprising reacting the unsaturated polymer and the lactone of claim 1 to form the thermoset polymer.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising shaping the thermosetting composition of claim 1 and reacting the unsaturated polymer and the lactone reactive diluent to form the article.
10 . A thermoset polymer comprising a lactone unit of the formula
wherein b is 0 or 1, and wherein n is 1 to 500,000.
11 . The thermoset polymer of claim 10 , wherein the lactone unit is of the formula
or a combination comprising at least one of the forgoing lactone units, wherein n is 1 to 500,000.
12 . The thermoset polymer of claim 11 , further comprising a unit derived from an additional reactive diluent different from the lactone reactive diluent.
13 . The thermoset polymer of claim 11 , further comprising a particulate filler.
14 . The thermoset polymer of claim 11 , further comprising reinforcing fibers.
15 . The thermoset polymer of claim 11 , wherein the polymer is a polyester or an epoxy vinyl ester.
16 . The thermoset polymer of claim 11 , having a Tg of 30° C. to 250° C.
17 . The thermoset polymer of claim 21 , wherein the thermoset polymer is transparent.
18 . The thermoset polymer of claim 21 , wherein the thermoset polymer is opaque.
19 . An article comprising the thermoset polymer of claim 21 .
20 . The article of claim 19 , where in the article is selected from an automotive component, an aircraft component, a construction component, and a marine component.