A blend of a macrocyclic
polyester oligomer and a
polymerization catalyst as a one component ready-to-use material with a long
shelf life enables production of parts from macrocyclic
polyester oligomers without the modification of existing equipment, thereby reducing time and cost of manufacture while expanding the application of macrocyclic
polyester oligomers. In this blend material, the macrocyclic polyester
oligomer remains intact in
solid state at ambient conditions. Upon melting, the blend material initially forms low
viscosity fluid, and then rapidly polymerizes to form high molecular weight polyesters which subsequently solidify to form crystalline polymers. In the case of certain macrocyclic polyester oligomers, for example, poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate), demolding can take place at the
polymerization temperature, e.g., at about 180° C. to 200° C., because the resulting polyester
polymer solidifies fairly rapidly at that temperature without cooling. In one aspect, the invention generally features a blend material that includes a macrocyclic polyester
oligomer, a
polymerization catalyst, and optionally, a filler. In another aspect, the invention generally features a process for preparing a blend material. In yet another aspect, the invention features processes such as
rotational molding, resin film infusion,
pultrusion, resin
transfer molding,
filament winding, making and using
powder-coated or
hot melt prepreg,
compression molding, and roll wrapping, which use the blend material.