Unsaturated polyester resins & the EU *(Council Directive 1999/13/EC of 11 March 1999 on the limitation of emissions the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations). Background Since the introduction of the European VOC Directivethere has been uncertainty about its applicability to theFibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP) industry, both fromlegislative authorities in various countries as well as inthe FRP industry within the EU. In some EU memberStates, the FRP industry has been penalised bylegislators attempting to enforce legislation that doesnot apply to the activity in question. Therefore PlasticsEurope Unsaturated Polyester (UP) technical grouphas assessed the position of the FRP industry withreference to the Directive. This position paper providesguidance with respect to the applicability of theDirective to the FRP industry. The Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP) mouldingprocess. The FRP moulding process is a versatile means ofconverting an unsaturated polyester resin (a solidpolymer at room temperature), dissolved in a volatile,reactive, unsaturated monomer, (usually styrene), incombination with reinforcing fibres (usually glass fibre)into structural materials, generally referred to as fibrereinforced laminates or fibre reinforced composites. In most processes where solvents are used, all of thesolvent is released during the process: and unlessemission restriction controls are in place, all of thesolvent is released into the atmosphere. However,during the cure of unsaturated polyester resins,styrene - the reactive monomer in which theunsaturated polyester is dissolved - co-polymeriseswith the reactive sites in the unsaturated polyesterchains to form a three dimensional solid: in otherwords a thermosetting plastic. The diagram below(courtesy SpecialChem), shows the cross-linkingmechanism of UP resins. In some FRP processing techniques, a very smallproportion of the reactive monomer may escape intothe atmosphere before copolymerisation. Strategies fordealing with styrene emissions are the subject of otherTechnical Bulletins within this series.

Definitions The VOC Directivediffer in meaning tothe FRP industry. Athe interpretation oVOC Directive and tessential for a quarelevance of the VO Organic solvents In the FRP industrylinked with the unsavery little of the volatmosphere during The VOC Directivefollows: ‘A VOC used alonematerials without uas a cleaning agenadjuster, a surfacepreservative.’ Applicability to theAs styrene undergprocessing of the unbe defined as an othe VOC Directive. cleaning purposes possibly fall within t Industrial activitiesIn Annexe 1 of the for which the Direct‘wood and plastics l‘Any activity to adhproduce laminated p Applicability to theOnly this ‘wood aactivity appears to FRP fabrication. Bu‘wood and plastics layers of which thedistinguished and rthe FRP process homogenous. Durinimpregnated with uncuring or cross-linkimonomer, the glassseparate layers in thcalled ‘lamination’, ‘wood and plasticsAnnexe 1 of the Dire

TECHNICAL BULLETIN

UP RESIN GROUP

Version: 2/05/06. To check if this is the c

VOC Directive*of volatile organic compounds due to

contains terminology that may what is commonly accepted within n understanding of the difference in f the vocabulary used within the hat used within the FRP industry is lified decision to be made on the C Directive to the FRP industry.

, the styrene in the resins is cross-turated polyester. This means that atile monomer is released into the processing.

defines an organic solvent as

or in combination to dissolve rawndergoing a chemical change or t, dispersion medium, a viscosity

tension adjuster, a plasticiser, a

FRP industry: oes a chemical change during saturated polyester resin, it cannot rganic solvent within the terms of Only if styrene were to be used for (which is rarely the case), would it he VOC directive.

Directive, twenty activities are cited ive is valid. These activities include amination’ which is defined as: ere together wood and/or plastic to roducts.’

FRP industry: nd plastics lamination’ category

have anything remotely relevant to t in the product resulting from the lamination’ process, the individual product is built up, can still be

ecognised. This is not the case in since the resulting laminate is

g FRP fabrication, glass fibres are saturated polyester resin. After the ng of the UP resin with the styrene fibres cannot be distinguished as e product. Although this process is

it has nothing in common with the lamination’ as described under ctive.

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urrent version visit www.plasticseurope.org

Continued

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TECHNICAL BULLETIN (continued)

The term ‘laminate’ as used in the FRP industry is not defined in the Directive. It can therefore be concludedthat the lamination process, as commonly referred to inthe FRP fabrication / moulding industry, cannot beclassified under the Directive category ‘wood andplastics lamination’.

FRP position: Since styrene canwith respect to itresins under the lamination proceindustry has nocalled ‘wood aconclude that Anfor the applicatiomoulding industry

1. The VOCnot appmonome

2. The VOCto contrrespect material.

3. EU Memlocal auindustry Directive

Relation to DirecDirective 2004/4emissions of volathe use of orgavarnishes and vmore focused on referred to in activities. HowevDefinitions states‘The mass of voproduct which repart of the coatinVOC content’. FRP position: So once again than organic compconsidered to be

Water-based cleaning systems require no special storage precautions.

This publication is iinformation is providbest information cuuser’s own risk. Theprovided in good faauthors are aware, with regards to its cfor damages of anyor reliance on the in

The diagram above shows a cross section of laminate flooringand is a good example of ‘wood and plastic lamination’ asdefined in the Directive. Here a melamine resin is used toprovide a protective coating to the wood based core in adistinctive build-up of layers. By contrast, in the FRPlamination process (below), the resin completely ‘wets out’the glassfibre to form an integrated and homogenousstructure.

Annex II and annex III of the VOC Directive Annex II of the Directive specifically targets coatingactivities in the vehicle coating industry. Annex IIBconcerns the principles and practices for emissionreduction for the activities outlined in the Directive. Annex III provides details of a plan for guidance onsolvent management.

‘Lamination’ as it is understood in the FRP industry

not be defined as an organic solvents use as a reactive monomer for UPterms of the VOC Directive, and thess as used in the FRP fabricationthing in common with the processnd plastics lamination’, we mustnexes II, IIB and III are not relevantn of the VOC Directive to the FRP. Therefore:

Directive, as it stands today, doesly to processes where reactive,r type, solvents are used. Directive can therefore not be used

ol the FRP moulding industry withto emissions of volatile organic

ber State legislators should directthorities that the FRP mouldingdoes not have to comply with this, in its present form.

tive 2004/42/CE: 2/EC deals with the limitation oftile organic compounds arising fromnic solvents in certain paints andehicle refinishing. This Directive ispaints and varnishes but may also beconjunction with UP resin relateder, the Directive under Article 2 /: latile organic compounds in a givenact chemically during drying to formg, shall not be considered part of the

is directive follows the same pattern:ound which reacts chemically is nota VOC.

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ntended for guidance only and while the ed in good faith and has been based on the

rrently available, is to be relied upon at the information contained in this document is

ith and, while it is accurate as far as the no representations or warranties are made ompleteness and no liability will be accepted nature whatsoever resulting from the use of formation contained in the publication.

PlasticsEurope Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4 B-1160 Brussels, Belgium Telephone + 32 2 676 1732 Fax +32 2 675 3935 Email info@plasticseurope.org www.plasticseurope.org

Typical ‘wood and plastic lamination’ as describedin the Directive

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