ah ha. Completey different explanation from the first posters.
What does the styrene do? Is it just a functional group of the
polyester? You seem to have taken ochem, perhaps if you care to you
could email me the mechanics and all. I suppose I could look it up but
that would be bothersome.

Polyester resin is a solution of polyester polymers dissolved in styrene.
Polymer molecules are long strings of atoms. When a small amount of a
catalyst like Methyl Ethyl ketone peroxide is added the
it starts a reaction that makes the styrene molecules attach to the sides of
the polyester molecules linking them together in a 3 dimensional matrix.

for example uncured polyester molecules look like this:

A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B

It reacts with the styrene like this:

A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B
| | | |
| | |
S S S S S
S S
| | | |
| | |
A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B

I am no chemist but as I understand it oxygen molecules will loosely bind
with one side of the styrene molecules preventing the double bond. The
styrene molecule prefers the polyester molecule and eventually cast off the
oxygen in favor of the polyester but the process is slowed.

You want those cross linked molecules between coats so that you get a solid
matrix. If the surface is fully cured because a wax film prevents oxygen
getting to it there will be no free styrene molecules for the next layer to
link up to. The new coat will only be mechanically bonded by hooking into
the nooks and crannies on the surface of the cured coat.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

wrote in message
ups.com...
ah ha. Completey different explanation from the first posters.
What does the styrene do? Is it just a functional group of the
polyester? You seem to have taken ochem, perhaps if you care to you
could email me the mechanics and all. I suppose I could look it up but
that would be bothersome.

Well, so much for ASCII art. The lines and Ss are supposed to tie to the
Bs.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:tsr3f.607$Kp4.331@lakeread08...
Polyester resin is a solution of polyester polymers dissolved in styrene.
Polymer molecules are long strings of atoms. When a small amount of a
catalyst like Methyl Ethyl ketone peroxide is added the
it starts a reaction that makes the styrene molecules attach to the sides
of the polyester molecules linking them together in a 3 dimensional
matrix.

for example uncured polyester molecules look like this:

A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B

It reacts with the styrene like this:

A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B
| | | | |
| |
S S S S S
S S
| | | | |
| |
A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B
A---B---A---B---A---B---A---B

I am no chemist but as I understand it oxygen molecules will loosely bind
with one side of the styrene molecules preventing the double bond. The
styrene molecule prefers the polyester molecule and eventually cast off
the oxygen in favor of the polyester but the process is slowed.

You want those cross linked molecules between coats so that you get a
solid matrix. If the surface is fully cured because a wax film prevents
oxygen getting to it there will be no free styrene molecules for the next
layer to link up to. The new coat will only be mechanically bonded by
hooking into the nooks and crannies on the surface of the cured coat.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

wrote in message
ups.com...
ah ha. Completey different explanation from the first posters.
What does the styrene do? Is it just a functional group of the
polyester? You seem to have taken ochem, perhaps if you care to you
could email me the mechanics and all. I suppose I could look it up but
that would be bothersome.

all the man wanted to know is if he could mix polyester resin in a wax
cup. was all this explanation necessary? he will have enough trouble
trying to mix it at the proper ratio as it is. then there is the
application....... do i need to know the chemical composition of peanut
butter when I eat it? no.

all the man wanted to know is if he could mix polyester resin in a wax
cup. was all this explanation necessary? he will have enough trouble
trying to mix it at the proper ratio as it is. then there is the
application....... do i need to know the chemical composition of peanut
butter when I eat it? no.

While the subject is more appropriate to r.b.building the question was
posted here so I answered it here. The curing of polyester is a chemical
reaction. The more you know about it the better able you are to take
advantage of its properties.

The original question required a limited explanation of the chemistry to
answer. The follow up question asked specifically what the styrene did. I
believe I answered that and applied it to the original question.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Meye5" wrote in message
oups.com...
all the man wanted to know is if he could mix polyester resin in a wax
cup. was all this explanation necessary? he will have enough trouble
trying to mix it at the proper ratio as it is. then there is the
application....... do i need to know the chemical composition of peanut
butter when I eat it? no.

all you did was confuse the original poster, now he is probably afraid
to ask how to mix it and apply it without being hit with a barrage of
highly technical answers.

Have you even been reading the posts?

huh, I imagined the polyester itself was polymerizing. Thanks for the
post.