| abstract |
Compounds useful as surfactant coupling agents in the preparation of filled thermosetting resin composites are provided which comprise vinyl carboxylic acid ester derivatives of compounds selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylene glycols, monoalkyl ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols, monoalkyl phenyl ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols, and polyoxyethylene derivatives of mono-, di-, and tri-hydroxy fatty acid esters of C1 to C4 mono- and polyhydric alcohols. The novel compounds are particularly useful in reducing the viscosity of highly bonded filler-prepolymer pastes to improve the dispersion of the filler and to promote interaction between the filler and the prepolymer so as to maintain and/or improve the properties of the final cured resin. The composites incorporating the coupling agents are useful in the manufacture of fiber glass reinforced sheet molding compounds (SMC) or bulk molding compounds (BMC), as well as in the production of laminating resins for use in spray-laminate operations. |