Epoxypolyesters as film-forming materials

A series of solid epoxypolyesters were prepared by the condensation of glycols, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride and dicyclopentadiene followed by the epoxidation of the double bonds in the unsaturated polyester. The polyesters were characterized and then subjected to photoinitiated cationic polymerization using triarylsulfonium salt as the photoinitiator. It was demonstrated that the coatings prepared from these epoxypolyesters exhibited good hardness, impact strength and degree of drying. The straightforward synthesis and high reactivity in cationic UV curing make these epoxypolyesters attractive as film forming materials.