Influence of post-curing temperature on the structure,properties, and adhesion of vinyl ester adhesive

Vinyl ester (VE) resins are widely used as thermoset adhesives in structural joints and composites, but complete curing under environmental conditions is not produced. The existing literature dealing with the effect of post-curing on the structure, viscoelastic, mechanical, and adhesion properties of VE resin is scarce. Therefore, in this study, VE resin was subjected to different post-curing temperatures (50–140 °C) for one hour, and the changes in structure and properties were assessed. The degree of cross-linking of the VE resin depended on the post-curing temperature and cure started to be completed above 100 °C, a temperature close to the glass transition temperature (115 °C) of the completely cross-linked polymer. Furthermore, gel formation in VE resin was evidenced for post-curing temperature below 100 °C. In order to fully cross-link the VE resin, post-curing at 140 °C for one hour was necessary, and it was evidenced by an increase in the glass transition temperature and in the mechanical properties; an increase in adhesion to cold rolled steel was obtained although the shear strength was lower than in the joint produced with the non-post-cured VE resin.