Polyester curatives.

ABCO INDUSTRIES, LTD.

Abcure S-40-25, a sprayable 40% emulsion of BPO in water, is recommended as an alternative to MEKP in applications that can tolerate the introduction of water with the catalyst. Product can be stored at room temperature and in large quantities, and does not require a yellow label for transportation.

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INC. Manufactures polyester promoters for rapid cure of SMC and BMC.

AKZO NOBEL INC.

NL-accelerators, a series of cobalt organometallic complexes, promote unsaturated polyester resins. In addition, other metal complexes are offered for specialty uses in polyester systems requiring ambient and elevated-temperature cures.

An extensive range of organic peroxides is offered for curing polyester resins over a wide range of temperatures and processing conditions. Products include various ketone peroxides and a broad range of granular, paste, and emulsion grades of BPO. Initiators for SMC and BMC formulations include peroxyesters and peroxyketals. Organic peroxides for high-temperature molding and a medium-range difunctional peroxide also available.

Several photo-initiators are available for uv curing of polyesters. Other products include di-t-butyl peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, peroxydicarbonates, and specialty organic peroxides.

AZTEC CATALYST CO. SUB. OF CATALYST RESOURCES, INC.

Peroxide initiators include dialkyl peroxides, diacyl peroxides, alkyl-hydroperoxides, peroxyesters, peroxyketals and custom blends. Peroxyesters include t-butyl peracetate, t-amyl peracetate, t-butyl peroxybenzoate, t-amyl peroxy-benzoate, t-amyl peroxypivalate, t-butyl peroxypivalate, t-amyl peroxyneodecanoate, t-butyl peroxyneodecanoate, t-amyl peroctoate, and three solutions of t-butyl peroctoate. Also offers a peroxyketal/peroxyester blend (Aztec TKB) and other peroxyketals.

Produces grades of benzoyl peroxide: dry, 97% minimum; 70% in water; 75% in water; and 77% in water. Dialkyl peroxides include 2,5-dimethyl-2, 5-di (t-butylperoxy) hexyne-3 and dicumyl and di-t-butyl peroxides.

BUFFALO COLOR CORP.

Supplies dimethyl aniline and diethyl aniline for use as promoters in molding-grade polyester resins.

CATALYST SYSTEMS INC. U.S. CHEMICAL & PLASTICS

Supplies benzoyl peroxide in paste and granular forms. Pastes are normally 50% (pigmented or unpigmented), though other formulations are available. Pourable/pumpable pastes at 40% or less also available. Granules offered in 70%, 75%, and 78% versions; and pastes in 380-lb drums or tubes.

Mono-Pak custom additive packages for elevated-temperature molding of reinforced plastics may contain catalysts, mold releases, thickeners and pigments as specified. Preweighed mixtures of additives are supplied in a soluble package that can be dropped unopened into the resin mix, eliminating preweighing, saving labor, simplifying inventories, and eliminating rejects caused by weighing errors involving critical additives.

COOK COMPOSITES & POLYMERS CO.

Peroxide initiators include MEKP and other ketone peroxides, t-butyl perbenzoate, t-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, dicumyl peroxide, and BPO paste. MEKPs include:

* Thermacure ZAP 25, made from a blend of ketone peroxides, which is said to give a shorter gel time with a quicker cure and barcol development. Designed primarily for tub/shower and marine applications. Not to be used on gel coats.

* Thermacure ZAP 50, a blend of ketone peroxides, which produces the same characteristics as ZAP 25 but in about 5% less time. Designed primarily for marble onyx applications, it is not to be used on gel coats.

DUPONT CO.

Vazo 52, 64, 67, and 88 nitrile-based compounds are primarily used as poly-merization initiators of vinyl monomers but are also useful in polymerization of unsaturated polyesters.

EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO.

Offers ethyl acetoacetate, methyl acetoacetate, dimethyl acetoacetamide, mono-methyl acetoacetamide, and acetoacetanilide for use as low-color copromoters for room-temperature cure of unsaturated polyesters.

ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA INC.

Supplies peroxide initiators for curing polyesters processed by contact molding (hand lay-up, spray-up, filament winding), cold molding, pultrusion, and other methods. Products include ketone peroxides, peroxyketals, peroxyesters, dialkyl, diacyl and hydroperoxides.

HERCULES INC.

Di-Cup dicumyl peroxide and Vul-Cup [a,a'-bis (tertiary butylperoxy) diisopropylbenzene] are used in processing unsaturated polyester at temperatures over 250 F and with other peroxides to improve performance.

HULS AMERICA, INC.

Organometallic promoters for polyesters include:

* Copac cobalt/potassium complex, which can be used to extend more costly cobalt promoters and reduce color.

* Nuxtra Cobalt-12%, a standard cobalt promoter.

* Nuodex Cobalt 254 cobalt modifier-promoter, which helps control the speed of gel promotion and prevent gel-time drift.

MONTEDISON USA INC.

Peroximon curing agents for polyester resins include MEK peroxides (K1 and K10), methylisobutyl ketone peroxide (K2), acetylacetone (K3), and cumene hydroperoxide (CH).

NORAC CO., INC.

Offers room-temperature cure initiators, including organic peroxides such as MEKP, AAP and BPO. Higher-temperature peroxyesters such as TBPB and TBPO also offered for use in SMC/BMC.

Preweighed, custom peroxyester/stearate mixtures available, and also pumpable blends of initiator/mold releases for automatic metering.

OM GROUP, INC.

Promoters for polyesters include cobalt octoate, cobalt naphthenate, and other cobalt compounds. Potassium octoate, Poly-Cure 503, a promoter containing cobalt plus synergistic proprietary ingredients, and manganese-based compounds also supplied.

REICHHOLD CHEMICALS, INC. REACTIVE POLYMERS DIV.

Offers line of 13 MEK peroxides for catalyzing polyesters. Products are said to be suitable for all types of processing. Benzoyl peroxide is available as wet granules, paste dispersions, and a 40% liquid dispersion.

WITCO CORP. POLYMER ADDITIVES GROUP

Supplies organic peroxide initiators for curing polyesters. Ketone peroxides for polyesters include Hi-Point 90, Quickset Super, Quickset Extra, Esperfoam FR, and USP-240. Peroxides for SMC, BMC and TMC high-temperature curing are peroxyesters and peroxyketals such as Esperox 570P, USP-245, Esperox 28PD, Esperox 10, Esperox 497M, and USP-400P. USP-90PD peroxyketal is useful for its enhanced efficiency.

Ficel AZDN (azobisisobutyronitrile), azo-polymerization initiator, provided for free-radical polymerizations and unsaturated polyesters.