Mechanical,thermal, and morphological properties of bismaleimide/unsaturated polyester copolymers

An unsaturated polyester (UP) resin was modified by the addition of a thermosetting bismaleimide (BMD) as a second coreactive monomer. The copolymers were characterized in terms of mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties by tensile, bend, and impact testing; thermogravimetric analysis; heat deforming temperature analysis; dynamic mechanical analysis; and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of modified resin indicated that crosslinking networks were formed between BMD and UP. The properties of the modified resins were compared with those of unmodified resins. The results indicate that the addition of BMD not only improved the thermal decomposition temperature and heat deforming temperature but also caused small changes in the mechanical properties. The effect of the construct of BMD and the reactions among BMD, UP, and styrene were analyzed. The results show that BMD has great potential to improve the properties of UP. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 593–598, 2006