Ehsan Jalali - Polymer Engineering and Color Technology Dept., Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Morteza Ebrahimi - Polymer Engineering and Color Technology Dept., Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Reza Gholami - Polymer Engineering and Color Technology Dept., Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Masoud Mikaeili - Shimi Polymer Taban, P.O.Box 341469-3536, Qazwin, Iran

In this study, an unsaturated polyester was cured by using two initiator namely benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) in the presence of cobalt accelerator. Different amounts of initiators (i.e. 2, 4, and 6 phr) were used in formulations. The curing reaction was monitored by using a DSC technique and the mechanical properties of samples were determined by using a tensile tester. The results showed that the extend of curing reaction was higher when MEKP was used. However, the elastic modulus of samples cured in the presence of BPO was found to be higher in comparison to the other samples

Unsaturated polyester resin-Initiator- BPO-MEKP-Mechanical properties - Curing