A sheet molding composition is disclosed which includes a four component resinous system which comprises (a) an unsaturated polyester comprising a polycondensation product of one or more dihydric alcohols and one or more ethylenically unsaturated polycarboxylic acids; (b) one or more low-profile additives which are thermoplastic polymers which cause phase separation and porosity during the curing reaction; (c) one or more olefinically unsaturated monomers which copolymerize with the unsaturated polyester; and, (d) one or more compatible components comprising at least one polysiloxane polyalkylene copolymer. The compatible components are compatible with the reacted unsaturated polyester and monomer during cure and impart improved surface characteristics when added to low-profile resin systems.

A method for forming a polymer with a decreased surface energy. The method comprises the steps of mixing from about 99.5% to about 95.0% of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefin and polyester with from about 0.5% to about 5.0% of a surface modifying agent having the structure R.sup.1 --A--Si (R.sup.2 R.sup.3)--O--[Si(R.sup.4 R.sup.5)--O].sub.n --Si--(R.sup.6 R.sup.7)--A--R.sup.8, and forming the mix of polymer and additive to a desired form. R.sup.1 and R.sup.8 are selected from the group consisting of derivatives of aliphatic or aliphatic/aromatic alcohols or mono-acids with a molecular weight of between about 250 to about 600 daltons, and A is selected from the group consisting of --O--, --NH--C(O)--NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --, and --C(O)--NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --. The agent is substantially intimately mixed with the polymer. The present invention also discloses a polymeric material with an increased surface energy prepared according to the method, a release liner, a method for forming injection molded or blow molded polymeric articles where the articles have a non-fugitive release agent, and a film extrusion processing aid comprising an additive for compounding with a polymeric composition being extruded.

A method for forming a polymer with a decreased surface energy. The method comprises the steps of mixing from about 99.5% to about 95.0% of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefin and polyester with from about 0.5% to about 5.0% of a surface modifying agent having the structure R.sup.1 --A--Si(R.sup.2 R.sup.3)--O--[Si(R.sup.4 R.sup.5)--O].sub.n --Si--(R.sup.6 R.sup.7)--A--R.sup.8, and forming the mix of polymer and additive to a desired form. R.sup.1 and R.sup.8 are selected from the group consisting of derivatives of aliphatic or aliphatic/aromatic alcohols or mono-acids with a molecular weight of between about 250 to about 600 daltons, and A is selected from the group consisting of --O--, --NH--C(O)--NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --, and --C(O)--NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --. The agent is substantially intimately mixed with the polymer. The present invention also discloses a polymeric material with an increased surface energy prepared according to the method, a release liner, a method for forming injection molded or blow molded polymeric articles where the articles have a non-fugitive release agent, and a film extrusion processing aid comprising an additive for compounding with a polymeric composition being extruded.

The invention relates to a curable, thickened molding material based on vinyl ester resins or vinyl ester urethane resins and containing a basic metal compound acting as thickening agent and also an acid group-containing thermoplastic vinyl polymer which is compatible with said resins.

A process for making a composite article having improved mechanical properties such as fatigue life, which process comprises contacting at least one continuous filament with a mixture comprising a resin and a strain relieving polymer.