Novel catalyst for curing polyester resins and method for determining the degree of cure in polyester and epoxy resin systems

A method for determining the degree of cure of polyester resin systems comprising the steps of:

• adding to a polyester resin compound a catalyst having a color imparted thereto by a pigment present in an amount of from about 0.03 to about 0.16 percent by weight, based upon the weight of the catalyst;
• mixing said resin and said catalyst until said pigment is uniformly dispersed throughout said resin and imparts its color to the mixture;
• and,
• depositing the mixture of resin and catalyst in a desired position for curing during which the color imparted the mixture by said pigment substantially disappears, allowing the degree of cure and the completion thereof to be visually determined.

A method for determining the degree of cure of epoxy resin systems comprising the steps of:

• adding to an epoxy resin compound a catalyst having a color imparted thereto by a pigment present in an amount of from about 0.005 to about 0.25 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of the system;
• mixing said resin and said catalyst until said pigment is uniformly dispersed throughout said resin and imparts its color to the mixture;
• and,
• depositing the mixture of resin and catalyst in a desired position for curing during which the color imparted the mixture by said pigment substantially disappears, allowing the degree of cure and the completion thereof to be visually determined.

A method for visually determining the uniform dispersion of a catalyst throughout a polyester resin mixed therewith without imparting a color to the cured product substantially different from that of the uncured resin comprising the steps of:

• adding to a polyester resin compound a catalyst having a color imparted thereto by a pigment present in an amount of from about 0.03 to 0.16 percent by weight, based upon the weight of the catalyst;
• mixing said resin and said catalyst until said pigment is uniformly dispersed throughout said resin and imparts its color to the mixture;
• and,
• depositing the mixture of resin and catalyst in a desired position for curing during which the color imparted the mixture by said pigment substantially disappears.

A method for visually determining the uniform dispersion of a catalyst throughout an epoxy resin mixed therewith without imparting a color the cured product substantially different from that of the uncured resin comprising the steps of:

• adding to an epoxy resin compound a catalyst having a color imparted thereto by a pigment present in an amount of from about 0.005 to about 0.25 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of the system;
• mixing said resin and said catalyst until said pigment is uniformly dispersed throughout said resin and imparts its color to the mixture;
• and,
• depositing the mixture of resin and catalyst in a desired position for curing during which the color imparted the mixture by said pigment substantially disappears.