Radiation thickened sheet molding compounds
AssigneeKent State University
InventorsMichael A. Czayka, Carlos Vargas-Aburto, Roberto M. Uribe
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Abstract
The present invention provides a compound and process for manufacturing thickened sheet-molding compounds wherein a thermoset molding resin is partially crosslinked by irradiation with high-energy electrons. In this process, the structure of the resin is changed from a viscous liquid to a viscoelastic gel, which acts like a thickened molding compound.
Claims18
A molding compound comprising:
- at least one unsaturated oligomer resin;
- and
- at least one unsaturated monomer;
- wherein said compound is non-reversibly crosslinked within a predetermined amount, and wherein the viscosity of said compound is increased.
A method of making a thickened compound comprising:
- preparing a composition consisting essentially of at least one unsaturated oligomer resin, and at least one unsaturated monomer;
- and
- non-reversibly crosslinking said composition a predetermined amount, wherein the viscosity of said composition is increased.
A method of non-reversibly crosslinking a compound comprising:
- preparing a composition comprising an amount of unsaturated oligomer resin, an amount of unsaturated monomer, and an amount of a free radical initiator;
- and
- irradiating the composition with high-energy electrons, wherein a plurality of non-reversible crosslinks are formed, and wherein formation of said crosslinks is dependent upon an absorbed dose and a dose rate of said high-energy electrons.
A method of preparing a compound which is suitable for use in compression molding operations comprising:
- preparing a thermoset mixture consisting essentially of an unsaturated oligomer resin, an unsaturated monomer, and a free radical initiator;
- forming a partially crosslinked mixture by selectively irradiating a portion of said thermoset mixture to a desired increased viscosity;
- cutting a portion from said partially crosslinked mixture to a desired mass;
- placing said mass into a mold;
- and
- heating said mold to a temperature sufficient to convert said partially crosslinked mixture to a cured and a molded product.
A molded article comprising a mixture of at least one unsaturated oligomer resin and at least one unsaturated monomer, wherein crosslinking of the monomer is provided by irradiation of the mixture to cause the at least one oligomer to become a free radical crosslinking the monomer.
A process to form a cured article from a polymeric compound,
- providing a polymeric compound consisting essentially of at least one unsaturated oligomer resin and at least one unsaturated monomer,
- irradiating the compound with high energy electrons having a predetermined energy for an amount of time to cause complete crosslinking in the compound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.