Properties of Polyester Resins Based on Cinnamylsuccinic Acid A. F. SHAABAN zyxwvu and M. A. SALEM, zyxwv Chemistry Department, Zagazig University, Benha Branch, Benha, Egypt, and N. N. MESSIHA, Laboratory of Polymers and Pigments, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt Synopsis Unsaturated polyester resins were prepared by the reaction of cinnamylsuccinic acid with saturated diols, namely, ethylene, diethylene, propylene, dipropylene, tetramethylene, and hexamethylene glycols, and the unsaturated diols, namely, l,4-butene- and 1.4-butynediols. All the polyester resins obtained have been characterized and were found to cure with styrene, with relatively low conversions. The properties of the cured polyesters in the form of films were determined. IR and 'H-NMR spectroscopy were used for both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the polyesters and their hydrolyzate products, after curing with styrene. INTRODUCTION Unsaturated polyesters's2 are conveniently prepared by melt copolyester- ification of the saturated and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids with a glycol at elevated temperatures above the melting points of the resulting poly- esters. Curing of the unsaturated polyesters with styrene to form solid thermoset materials may have markedly improved properties.lv3In our pre- vious work: the kinetics of polyesterification of cinnamylsuccinic anhydride with ethylene glycol were studied. The work is now extended to find the optimal general conditions for the preparation of a number of unsaturated polyesters based on the condensation of cinnamylsuccinic acid with some glycols. Further, the reactions between these unsaturated polyesters and styrene have been also studied. EXPERIMENTAL Cinnamylsuccinic acid (mp 144°C)was prepared by the reaction of allyl- benzene and maleic anhydride according to the method of Christian and Rande~tvedt.~ All chemicals and solvents used were of AR or equivalent grade. Polyesterification Reactions. The polyesterification reactions were car- ried out by heating equimolar amounts of the acid and glycol in presence of oxygen-free nitrogen. The time-temperature program for each polyester is illustrated in Table I. The polyesters were purified twice by dissolving in chloroform and precipitating with light petroleum, and then were dried under reduced pressure. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. zyxwv 30, 2031-2039 (1985) zyxw @ 1985 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. zyxw CCC 0021-8995/85/2031-09$04.00