Synthesis, properties and application prospects in biomedical areas of unsaturated polyester resin modified with iron(II) clathrochelate

The paper presents a number of properties of unsaturated polyester resins based on the post-consumer PET recyclate modified with iron(II) clathrochelate, such as thermal, mechanical, optical and visual. The iron compound was used as an accelerator instead of toxic low-molecular cobalt salts, commonly applied for curing of unsaturated polyester resins being also responsible for giving the resin materials an orange-red colour depending on the used amount. Moreover, the iron clathrochelate proved to be an ideal agent added to the polyester resin, giving it antimicrobial properties. Cytotoxicity tests showed that the tested materials were safe and did not cause any undesirable effects in contact with skin fibroblasts. Due to the use of the compound that gives polymers such broad properties, new perspectives are opening up in the preparation and application of polyester materials.