Synthesis and thermal stability of the resins prepared from the reactions of 1,4-bis(2,2-dicyanovinyl)benzene with aromatic diamines and electrical conductivity of the resulting materials following pyrolysis

New thermosetting resins were prepared from the reaction of 1,4-bis(2,2-dicyanovinyl)benzene with aromatic diamines in varying molar ratios. The thermal stability of these resins was correlated with their composition and the curing conditions. They were stable in N₂ up to 370–448°C and afforded anaerobic char yields of 73–84% at 800°C after curing at 300°C for 20–60 h. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of all resins pyrolyzed at 700°C for 15 h was studied in the temperature range from ?173–327°C (100–600 K). The results showed that at room temperature the unpyrolyzed polymers have insulating properties, whereas a dramatic decrease in the electrical resistivity is observed following pyrolysis. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity suggests that all of the materials studied have semiconducting properties. The observed electrical conductivity is thermally activated with activation energies ranging from 0.03–0.06 eV. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.