This article provides background information on the chemistry, coating properties, resin types, applications techniques, and performance characteristics of fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) resins. It describes the formulation methods of FEVE resins, namely, solvent-based coating formulations, water-based coating formulations, and powder coating formulations. The basic concerns to be addressed when formulating and using FEVE coatings are also discussed. The article concludes with a section on health and related safety regulations.

This article discusses postconsumer plastics recyclate quantities, the classification of plastics recycling into primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary categories, and how the life cycle of plastics is affected by recycling. The recycling processes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which accounts for the largest percentage of plastic recycling, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastics, the other large-volume plastic recyclate, as well as vinyl resins and polycarbonate resins are described. The life cycle of plastics has four phases: poly formation, part fabrication, product service, and disposal. Landfilling is still the primary method of final disposal, and incineration is another option, but recycling has become a viable alternative. The article presents a comparison between secondary and tertiary recycling.

This article provides a discussion on polyester coating applications such as powder coatings, can coatings, and automotive paints. It includes an overview, structure, properties, and benefits of vinyl ester resins. The article discusses the additives for both unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester coatings, namely, curing systems, thixotropic agents and fillers. It exemplifies polyester and vinyl ester coating, lining and flooring systems that are used for top-to-bottom protection of industrial plants and equipment. The article also highlights the concerns to be addressed when using polyesters and vinyl esters.

This article provides an overview of the various types of unsaturated polyester resins and low-profile additives. The resins include general-purpose resins, isophthalic resins, bisphenol A fumarate resins, chlorendic resins, and vinyl ester resin. The article describes the mechanical and electrical properties, thermal and oxidative stability, and chemical and ultraviolet (UV) resistance of polyester resins. It concludes with a discussion on the flame-retardant polyester resins.

This article discusses the types, properties, and uses of continuous-fiber-reinforced composites, including glass, carbon, aramid, boron, continuous silicon carbide, and aluminum oxide fiber composites. While polyester and vinyl ester resins are the most used matrix materials for commercial applications, epoxy resins, bismaleimide resins, polyimide resins, and thermoplastic resins are used for aerospace applications. The article addresses design considerations as well as product forms and fabrication processes.

This article describes the resin and fabrication requirements associated with fiberglass-reinforced plastic equipment. It provides a discussion on various resins and their resistance to various environments. These include polyester, epoxy, epoxy vinyl-ester, and furan and phenolic thermosetting resins. The article concludes with a discussion on the curing system of thermosetting resins.

A thermosetting resin, or thermoset, is a synthetic organic polymer that cures to a solid, infusible mass by forming a three-dimensional network of covalent chemical bonds. Significant applications include construction and thermoset engineering plastics. This article discusses the general and family characteristics of thermosetting resin families, including allyls, aminos (urea formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde), cyanates, epoxies, polybenzimidazoles, unsaturated polyesters, thermoset polyimides, phenolics, and vinyl esters. It also explains processing methods, including curing and curing agents. The article provides descriptions of commercial product forms and the wide array of applications of thermosetting resins. It also tabulates the performance properties (mechanical, thermal, electrical and chemical resistance) of some families of unfilled or unreinforced thermosetting resins and reinforced or filled grades.

Open molding is the method used in the polymer-matrix composites industry to make thermoset composite products. This article discusses the advantages, disadvantages, and applications of the open molding. It describes the various process of the open molding, such as hand lay-up process and spray-up process. Workmanship for hand lay-up and spray-up processes is reviewed. The article provides information on the matrix-resin materials used for open molding, including unsaturated polyester resins, epoxy vinyl ester resins, and reinforcements. It explains the component design and short- and long-term properties of a fiber reinforced composite laminate depending on material selection and workmanship. The article also presents the basic design guidelines for open molding.

Wet lay-up using hand or spray techniques is one of the simplest methods of combining a fiber reinforcement with a solidifying resin to form a composite structure. This article describes several wet lay-up processes - including contact molding, spray molding, vacuum bag molding, and autoclave molding - suited for making parts on open-faced molds using polyester and vinyl ester resins. The article also provides information on mechanically assisted lay-up which can be automated to alleviate some of the manual work.

This article is an informative primer on sealants and the role they play in engineered assemblies. It discusses the physical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties of sealant materials and the various forms in which they are applied, including liquids, pastes, and extruded tapes. It also describes classifications and types, comparing and contrasting sealants made from oil-based caulks, asphalts, coal tar resins, latex acrylic sealants, polyvinyl acetate caulks, solvent acrylics, butyl sealants, polysulfides, polyurethanes, modified silicones, anaerobics, vinyl plastisols, and polypropylenes. In addition, the article provides practical design insight, addressing application requirements, seal configurations, and joint stresses. It concludes with a brief discussion on the use of sealants in aerospace, automotive, electrical, and construction applications.

Organic coatings are the principal means of corrosion control for the hulls and topsides of ships and for the splash zones on permanent offshore structures. This article describes surface preparation which is the most important consideration in determining the performance of organic coating systems. It contains a table that lists the uses and applicable standards for various surface preparation techniques. The article provides information on organic coatings in topside coating systems and reviews the importance of primers in the protection of steel substrates. It also explains the property requirements and the common types of immersion coatings.

This article discusses the coating systems categorized by the generic type of binder or resin and grouped according to the curing or hardening mechanism inherent within that generic type. It focuses on the properties, advantages, and limitations of various autooxidative cross-linked resins, thermoplastic resins, and cross-linked thermosetting resins. The autooxidative cross-linked resins include alkyd resins and epoxy esters. The article examines the two types of coatings based on thermoplastic resins: those deposited by evaporation of a solvent, commonly called lacquers, and those deposited by evaporation of water, a class of coatings called water-borne coatings. The coatings that chemically cross link by copolymerization, including epoxies, unsaturated polyesters, urethanes, high-temperature curing silicones, and phenolic linings, are also described.

Painting is a generic term for the application of a thin organic coating to the surface of a material for decorative, protective, or functional purposes. This article provides a detailed account of the types and selection factors of paints and the various application methods, including conventional air atomized, airless, and electrostatic spray; roller coating; dip coating; flow coating; curtain coating; tumble coating; electrocoating; and powder coating. Surface preparation methods and prepaint treatments for coating systems are also discussed. The article includes information on quality control procedures, causes of paint film defects, cost calculation, and safety and environmental precautions. The composition and characteristics of organic coatings, coating system selection factors, the types of paints for structural steel, and the applications of paint on structural steel are also reviewed.

Pultrusion is a cost-effective automated process for manufacturing continuous, constant cross-section composite profiles. This article describes the process characteristics and advantages of pultrusion. It provides information on the applications of pultrusion and discusses the processing equipment and tooling, the material composition, and the process control essential for a basic understanding of the pultrusion process.

This article describes the synthesis, manufacturing, and properties of both the neat soy-based resins and the glass, flax, and hemp composites. A tabulation of the fatty-acid distribution in various plant oils is provided. The article discusses synthetic pathways for triglyceride-based monomers and provides a discussion on acrylated epoxidized soybean oils (AESO), maleinized soyoil monoglyceride (SOMG/MA), and maleinized hydroxylated oil (HO/MA). The polymer properties of the AESO, SOMG/MA, and HO/MA are also discussed. The article explains the ballistic impact resistance of soy resin composites and concludes with a discussion on biodegradable composites.

Pultrusion is an automated process for manufacturing composite materials into continuous, constant cross-sectional profiles. The article provides an overview of the pultrusion process and the wide range of materials that can be used to provide a broad spectrum of composite properties. It discusses the mechanical, physical and material properties of pultruded products, and the orientation options available to utilize the properties advantageously. The article also provides guidelines for designing pultruded products.