Thermal and mechanical analysis of the influence of changing the amount of cobalt octoate accelerator in isophthalic polyester resin

Abstract

The importance of searching for more efficient and cost-effective polymeric materials with potential applications in various industries has led this research to investigate the influence of varying the amount of cobalt octoate in the production of isophthalic polyester resin, examining both the thermal behaviour and mechanical properties of these materials. The primary objective is to understand how the concentration of cobalt octoate mechanically and thermally affects the resin curing process. Experiments were conducted involving the production of isophthalic polyester resins with different concentrations of cobalt octoate (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%). The curing time, temperature, and mechanical strength of the resulting materials were monitored. Statistical analyses were also carried out to assess the relationship between these variables. Based on the analyses conducted, it was observed that increasing the accelerator's quantity did not prove effective in linearly accelerating the curing process. It was also observed that a higher temperature during the curing process could result in superior mechanical strength of this material. Additionally, it was revealed that higher concentrations of octoate resulted in thinner test specimens due to volumetric contraction during the curing process. Furthermore, it was noticed that greater mechanical strength was achieved with the lower concentration of cobalt octoate (0.5%) at a higher temperature, demonstrating that optimising the concentration of cobalt octoate can result in materials with better mechanical performance and lower production costs. Therefore, this research provides valuable insights into how the amount of cobalt octoate influences the thermal and mechanical properties of isophthalic polyester resins, emphasising, above all, the importance of finding a precise balance between the accelerator's concentration, curing temperature, and the final properties of the material.