Reaction Polymers

This text is a comprehensive update of the technical developments and markets for the major classes of reaction polymers: Polyurethanes, Expoxy Resins, Unsaturated Polyester Resins, and Phenolic Resins. The four reaction polymer technologies comprise a major segment of todays global industrial polymer world. The global demand for the products in 1990 was in excess of ten million metric tons. Reaction polymers are unique in their application/enduse versatility which allows formulation of many different products tailor-made for major markets. Liquid or low melting monomers are rapidly converted into polymers by spray, molding or extrusion processes. A typical example is the RIM (reaction injection molding) process which is used widely in the global automotive industry. Reaction polymers are usually thermoset polymers with outstanding physical properties and thermal stabilities. Their ability to be recycled has recently been challenged, but significant progress on the recyclability of the polymer systems both pre and post consumer is being made.In addition the chemical versatility of particularly the polyuthanes family of products leads to a growing family of thermoplast polymers with with physical properties ranging from high performance elastomers to engineering plastics. This book contains the works of 69 authors whose effort will bring you rapidly to the state-of-art. It should prove to be of value to both the producers of Reaction Polymer raw materials as well as the final end-use application molders and fabricators. In addition polymer researchers both in indsutry and academia should benefit from the in-depth technical reviews for these fascinating reaction polymer materials.