Poly(acrylate) containing compositions and process for producing molded articles

Abstract

This invention is directed to a curable molding composition which comprises a mixture of (a) one or more fibers with a melting point or a glass transition temperature above about 130.degree. C., (b) a poly(acrylate) characterized by the following empirical formula: ##STR1## wherein R is the hydroxy-free residue of an organic polyhydric alcohol which contained alcoholic hydroxyl groups bonded to different carbon atoms, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently hydrogen or methyl, n is 1 to 3 (c) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which is soluble in and copolymerizable with (b), and (d) an elevated temperature free-radical curing catalyst capable of affecting the co-reaction of (b) with (c), said mixture containing (i) from about 15 to about 80 weight percent of (a), (ii) from about 5 to about 60 weight percent of (b), and (iii) from about 5 to about 60 weight percent of (c), and (iv) from about 0.2 to about 3 weight percent of (d), and wherein (b) plus (c) has a viscosity of from about 1 to about 50 centipoise. Additionally this invention concerns a process for producing high performance reinforced thermoset molded articles. The process comprises (I) forming a mixture of said composition, (II) providing said composition into a heatable mold and (III) molding said mixture at a temperature sufficient to cause the initiation of the co-reaction of (b) with (c) at a temperature not greater than 150.degree. C. and (IV) completing said molding in less than 6 minutes from the time of initiation of said co-reaction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.