Polybenzimidazoquinazolines: High-Temperature Matrix Materials

A series of polybenzimidazoquinazolines (PIQ) were prepared by the condensation of 5, 5′-bis[2(o-aminophenyl)benzimidazole] with phenyl esters of various di- and tricarboxylic acids. Thermomechanical and thermooxidative properties of the neat resins and as matrices in reinforced composites were evaluated at 371°C. A benzimidazoquinazoline copolymer, prepared from diphenyl bisbenzoate and sym-tris(carbophenoxyphenyl) triazine showed excellent retention of thermooxidative and thermomechanical properties at 371°C after 200 hr at 371°C. For example, a Modmor II unidirectional laminate provided flexural strength and modulus at 371°C, respectively, of 112, 000 psi and 15.6 × 10⁶ psi after 1 hr and 108, 000 and 16.4 × 10⁶ psi after 200 hr in circulating air.     

New polyphenylquinoxalines linked by m-terphenyl flexibilizing groups

Three new monomers with phenylglyoxyloyl groups fixed on the 4,4′-, 4,6′-, and 4,4″-positions of m-terphenyl were synthesized by different pathways. They were used to prepare a series of polyphenylquinoxalines by solution polycondensation with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl ether. These polymers exhibited excellent oxidative and thermal stability as shown by thermogravimetric analysis and isothermal aging in circulating air between 300 and 450°C. Clear yellow films, cast from m-cresol solution, were used to measure their softening temperature by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). Numerical data thus obtained, indicated a thermoplastic behavior in the temperature range 300 ± 15°C. Crosslinking of the linear polymers by isothermal heat exposure under argon between 300 and 500°C was investigated by means of TMA. Molded materials were fabricated under constant pressure (996 psi) at 500–525°C with an Instron testing machine. These polymers were also used for preliminary evaluation as matrices for 181-E glass reinforced composites. Flexural values obtained after isothermal aging in air up to 400°C indicated a potential use varying from 150 hr at 350°C to 24 hr at 400°C.     

Crosslinking polyferrocenylenes by polymethylol compounds

Polyferrocenylenes with mean molecular weights of 500–4 000 have been converted into thermosetting polymers by reaction with xylylene glycol and telomers thereof. The prepolymers have been used successfully as molding materials and laminating resins. Glass fiber-reinforced laminates have been made with flexural strengths of 63 × 10³ psi and flexural moduli of 4–5 × 10⁶ psi. Ferrocene–xylylene glycol copolymers were also prepared, and 1,1′-bis(hydroxymethyl)ferrocene was used as a polyferrocenylene crosslinking agent. Laminates were also made from the 1,1′-bis(hydroxymethyl)ferrocene-based polymers.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(arylene ether imidazole)s

Poly(arylene ether imidazole)s were prepared by the aromatic nucleophilic displacement reaction of a bisphenol imidazole with activated aromatic dihalides. The polymers had glass transition temperatures ranging from 230 to 318°C and number-average molecular weights as high as 82,000 g/mol. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a 5% weight loss occurring ～ 400°C in air and ～ 500°C in nitrogen. Typical neat resin mechanical properties obtained at room temperature included tensile strength and tensile modulus of 14.2 and 407 ksi and fracture energy (G_lc) of 23 in. lb/in.² Titanium-to-titanium tensile shear strengths measured at 23 and 200°C were 4800 and 3000 psi, respectively. In addition, preliminary data were obtained on carbon fiber laminates. The chemistry, physical, and mechanical properties of these polymers are discussed.     

Biaspartimide-diamines as Curing Agents for Epoxy Resins

Various 4,4′ -bis(N²-[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]aspartimido)diphenylmethane-type bisaspartimide-diamines have been used as solventless curing agents for epoxy resins. The thermal curing was performed at 170, 190, and 230°C to give a tough brown polymer. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymer obtained showed thermal stability up to 330°C and char yields of 45% in N₂ at 800°C and 12% in air at 700°C. The thermal curing reaction was monitored using FT-IR. The synthesized polymers are useful for making composites, laminates, and adhesives.     

Oligomeric bisphenol A‐based PEEK‐like phthalonitrile‐cure and polymer properties

The cure behavior and properties of oligomeric bisphenol A‐based PEEK‐like phthalonitrile (PN) are thoroughly examined in this article. The resin is easily processed from the melt at a relatively low temperature (150–200 °C) and the monomer cure occurs in a controlled manner as a function of the amine content and processing thermal conditions. Dynamic mechanical measurements and thermogravimetric analysis show that the polymer properties improve as the maximum PN postcure temperature is increased to 415 °C. The effects of the amine and polymer postcure conditions on the flexural and tensile properties of the PN polymer are investigated. The mechanical properties of the polymer are maximized after postcuring to moderate temperatures (330–350 °C). The polymer exhibits an average flexural strength and tensile strength at break of 117 and 71 MPa, respectively. After oxidative aging at 302 °C for 100 h, the polymer retains excellent mechanical properties. The average flexural and tensile strength retention of the polymers are 81 and 75%, respectively. Microscale calorimetric measurements reveal that the flammability parameters of the oligomeric PN are low compared to other thermosets. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3769–3777     

The curing of epoxy resins with aminophenoxycyclotriphosphazenes

Aminophenoxycyclotriphosphazenes have been used as curing agents for epoxy resins. The thermal curing was performed in stages at 120–125 and 175–180°C followed by postcuring at 225°C to give tough brown polymers. The thermal curing reaction was monitored using FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermogravimetric analysis of the cured resins has shown thermal stability up to 350–340°C. The char yield obtained in nitrogen at 800°C was about 55–42% and in air at 700°C was about 40–32%. Graphite cloth laminates were prepared. The mechanical properties evaluated were found superior to those of commonly used epoxy resin systems. These resins are useful for making fire- and heat-resistant composites, laminates, molded parts, and adhesives.     

Novel processable aromatic thermoplastic polyimides: Films,adhesives, moldings,and graphite composites

Novel hot-melt type flexible, tough, thermally stable, processable, thermoplastic, aromatic polyimides have been synthesized involving reaction of a keto-ether containing diamine with hinged aromatic dianhydrides followed by thermal and chemical cyclodehydration. Inherent viscosity in DMAC at 35°C of the synthesized polymers ranged 1.02 to 1.4 dl/g (0.5% solution). The polymers showed a glass transition temperature (T_g) of 250°C to 180°C as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermomechanical analysis (TMA). Thermogravimetric analysis showed polymer stability up to 510°C, in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. All the polymers have shown good melt-flow. Films of 1.5–2.8 ml thickness were made and tested for mechanical properties at room temperature, 177°C and 210°C. The developed films are suitable for adhesion of Ti/Ti specimens and showed a lap shear strength of 5575 psi. Melt-fusion of the polymers gave tough moldings. Graphite cloth composites have been made and tested for mechanical properties.     

Novel propargyl‐substituted azo‐coupled phenolic resins

Novel propargyl that contains phenolic resins via azo‐coupling reaction was synthesized. Peculiarities of curing process were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry analysis. Polymerization of resins with azo groups was estimated to be affected by radicals obtained at resin decomposition causing 10°C peak shift to lower temperatures in comparison with resin containing only propargyl group. At the same time, polymerization of triple propargyl bond was shown to not proceed at radical initiation until Cleisen rearrangement and chromene formation. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed increase of thermal stability by 170–190°C and char yield by up to 20% for modified resins in comparison with original novolac resin. Heat deflection temperature estimated by dynamic mechanical analysis was also shown to be increased by at least 110°C for modified resins in comparison with novolac resin. All the synthesized resins are soluble in acetone and used for preparation of unidirectional glass fiber‐based composites. Flexural strength and modulus for modified resins‐based composites were shown to increase by at least 25% and 10% correspondingly in comparison with novolac‐based composite. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improved Flexural Strength of N-Vinyl-Pyrrolidone Modified Acrylic Acid Copolymers for Glass-Ionomers

Abstract

The flexural strengths of N-vinylpyrrolidone modified glass-ionomer cements were investigated. The optimal molar ratio of the monomers in copolymers, composed of the three components acrylic acid, itaconic acid and N-vinylpyrrolidone, was determined using a SAS statistical program. The copolymers were prepared using a free-radical polymerization process. The viscosities of aqueous solutions of these polymers were determined. Cements were formed by the reaction of these solutions with glass particles. Flexural strength (FS) was used as the basic screening property to find the optimum molar ratio. Statistical models were applied to predict the optimum molar ratios. All strength values were recorded on the specimens conditioned in distilled water at 37°C for 7 days. The optimal molar ratio for these copolymers was 7:1:3 for poly(acrylic acid-co-itaconic acid-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone), based on flexural strength and viscosity. The effect of molecular weight (MW) on FS was also evaluated. Copolymer with a MW of 10, 800 (M_n) showed 85% higher FS than the Ketac-Molar (KM) system, along with a reasonable working viscosity.     

Processing studies and thermal stability of addition polymers from 1,4,5,8-tetrahydro-1,4;5,8-diepoxyanthracene and Bis-dienes

1,4,5,8-Tetrahydro-1,4;5,8-diepoxyanthracene reacts with various anthracene end-capped polymide oligomers to form Diels-Alder cycloaddition copolymers. The polymers are soluble in common organic solvents, and dehydrate thermally at temperatures of 300–350°C to give thermal oxidatively stable pentiptycene units along the polymer backbone. Because of their high softening points and good thermal oxidative stability, the polymers are candidates for matrix resins for high temperature composite applications. To assess their usefulness for such applications, several parameters have been studied affecting the properties of the final polymer. These parameters include varying the formulated molecular weight of the end-capped prepolymers, and use of meta-substituted aromatic diamine in place of some of the para-substituted diamine. Processability of the resins was studied using rheometric spectrometry, and a processing scheme was devised. Finally, several formulations of neat resins were compression molded into coupons, and evaluated for longterm stability in air at 315 and 371°C. The best combination of good processability and thermal oxidative stability was obtained from polymers synthesized with small amounts of meta-diamine substitution and higher formulated molecular weight prepolymers.     

Improving the water resistance of epoxy–anhydride matrices by the incorporation of bentonite

Epoxy–anhydride‐based polymers are commonly used as a matrix in pipeline systems exposed to water during their in‐service life. Water absorption at moderate temperatures and/or at long exposure times could lead to irreversible hydrolysis reaction decreasing considerably the polymer overall performance. A strategy to enhance the barrier properties of epoxy resins is to add nanofillers to traditional matrices. In this work, we added bentonite and chemically modified bentonite to this purpose. Water absorption of the resulting materials at three different temperatures (22°C, 80°C, and 93°C) was studied, and simultaneously, the evolution during the immersion tests of glass transition temperature and flexural modulus was recorded. Long‐term gravimetric results showed that composites with chemically modified bentonite produce a delay on the hydrolysis of epoxy–anhydride matrix, which is a relevant result, because of the tough application and uses of the system, from the technological point of view. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Curing of epoxy resins with metal(II)4,4′,4″,4‴-tetraamino phthalocyanines-modification with elastomers

The use of metal phthalocyanine tetraamines in curing epoxy resins to form high-temperature-resistant matrix polymers for composites has been reported earlier. The effect of adding carboxy-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile (CTBN) elastomer is now described; preliminary measurements of tensile, flexural, and short-beam shear strengths, dynamic moduli, resin content, and moisture absorption are presented, and the results of dynamic thermogravimetric analyses are given. In addition to their high char yield (86–87.5% at 800°C in a nitrogen atmosphere) and limiting oxygen index (48.3–50.3), the laminates showed good mechanical properties.     

Thiol-Aldehyde Polycondensation for Bio-based Adaptable and Degradable Phenolic Polymers

Designing sustainable materials with tunable mechanical properties, intrinsic degradability, and recyclability from renewable biomass through a mild process has become vital in polymer science. Traditional phenolic resins are generally considered to be not degradable or recyclable. Here we report the design and synthesis of linear and network structured phenolic polymers using facile polycondensation between natural aldehyde-bearing phenolic compounds and polymercaptans. Linear phenolic products are amorphous with T_g between −9 °C and 12 °C. Cross-linked networks from vanillin and its di-aldehyde derivative exhibited excellent mechanical strength between 6–64 MPa. The connecting dithioacetals are associatively adaptable strong bonds and susceptible to degradation in oxidative conditions to regenerate vanillin. These results highlight the potential of biobased sustainable phenolic polymers with recyclability and selective degradation, as a complement to the traditional phenol-formaldehyde resins.     

Polyastriazines from Oxalamidrazone

High molecular weight soluble poly-as-triazines were prepared by solution cyclopolycondiensation of oxalamidrazone with various bisglyoxals and bisbenzils Solutions of the phenyl-substituted poly-as-triazines at solids content of -20%_c are metastable increasing in viscosity and, in some cases, selling, The gelling phenomenon can be alleviated without any appreciable detrimental effect upon the polymer by upsetting the stoichiometry of the reactants Relatively high molecular weight polymer (e g η_inh=1 76) can be obtained when the stoichiometry is upset by 1%_c in favor of either reactar t Polyphenyl-as-triazines films exhibited room temperature (RT) tensiie strength as high as 18,400 psi (tensiie modulus of 400 000 psi and ultimate elongation of 5%_c) Titanium and stainless steel tensile shear specimens provided RT strength of 2850 and 3400 psi, respectively Polyphenyl-as-triazines exhibit good thermal oxidative stability after aging for 1000 hr at 500°F (260°C) in circulating air.     

Fire- and heat-resistant matrix resins based on ethynyl-substituted aromatic cyclotriphosphazenes

A novel class of fire- and heat-resistant matrix resins has been synthesized by thermal polymerization of ethynyl-substituted aromatic cyclotriphosphazenes. Thermal polymerization of new tris[4-(4′-ethynylbenzanilido)phenoxy]tris(phenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene ( III ) and tris[4-(4′-ethynylphthalimido)phenoxy]tris(phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene ( VII ) at 250°C for 1–1.5 h gave tough polymers. The thermal stabilities of the polymers were evaluated in nitrogen and in air by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The synthesised polymers were stable to 400–410°C and showed char yield of 78–65% at 800°C in nitrogen and of 78–69% at 700°C in air. The ethynyl-substituted polymer precursor ( III ) was synthesised by the reaction of tris(4-aminophenoxy)tris(phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene ( I ) with 4-ethynylbenzoyl chloride. The polymer precursor ( VII ) was synthesised by a solution condensation of I with 4-ethynylphthalic anhydride followed by in situ thermal cyclodehydration at 150°C. The structure of polymer precursors was characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The curing of polymer precursors was monitored by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and IR spectroscopy. The synthesised matrix resins are potential candidates for the development of heat- and fire-resistant fiber-reinforced composites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High-strength fire- and heat-resistant imide resins containing cyclotriphosphazene and hexafluoroisopropylidene groups

High-strength fire- and heat-resistant polymers were obtained by the thermally induced melt-polymerization of maleimido-phenoxy cyclotriphosphazenes linked by hexafluoroisopropyliden-ediphthalimide groups. These polymers show good thermal stability and high char yields: 78–80% at 800°C in nitrogen and 60–68% in air at 700°C. Graphite-fabric laminates did not burn in pure oxygen, even at 300°C (LOI = 100%), and were tested for shear, flexural, and tensile strengths. Two monomers were synthesized by reacting tris(4-aminophenoxy)-tris(phenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene with maleic anhydride and hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride. The triamine was synthesized by a stepwise reaction of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene with phenol and 4-nitrophenol to give tris(4-nitrophenoxy)-tris(phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene and reducing the nitro groups. The structures of cyclic phosphazene-trimeric precursors and the polymers were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ³¹P-NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The curing behaviors of polymer precursors were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses.     

High temperature phosphorylated or nonphosphorylated laminating resins based on maleimido-substituted aromatic s-triazines

Several new phosphorylated or nonphosphorylated maleimide or nadimide systems containing s-triazine rings were synthesized. Their synthesis was accomplished by simple methods utilizing readily available and relatively inexpensive starting materials. All polymer precursors were characterized by infrared (IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy. They were thermally polymerized to heat-resistant laminating resins. Thermal characterization of monomers and their cured resins was achieved using differential thermal analysis (DTA), dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and isothermal gravimetric analysis (IGA). The cured resins were stable up to 304–330°C both in nitrogen and air atmospheres and formed anaerobic char yield 49–59% at 800°C. The phosphorylated polymers showed a lower temperature of initial weight loss but afforded higher anaerobic char yield than did the corresponding nonphosphorylated polymers. The thermal properties of the polymers were correlated with their chemical structure.     

Poly(enonsulfides) from the addition of aromatic dithiols to aromatic dipropynones

Novel poly(enonsulfides) were prepared with inherent viscosities as high as 1.35 dL/g by nucleophilic addition of various aromatic dithiols to 1,1′-(1,3- or 1,4-phenylene)bis(3-phenyl-2-propyn-1-one) in m-cresol at 25–40°C. A tough clear yellow film with a tensile strength of 11,300 psi and a tensile modulus of 466,000 psi at 25°C was cast from a chloroform solution of the polymer prepared from 1,3-dithiobenzene and 1,1′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(3-phenyl-2-propyn-1-one). The poly(enonsulfides) exhibited T_g's as high as 180°C and weight losses of approximately 10% at 331°C in air. The synthesis and characterization of several poly(enonsulfides) are discussed.     

Shape memory biomaterials prepared from polyurethane/ureas containing sulfated glucose

Covalently crosslinked polyurethane/urea polymers were synthesized using diamine monomers modified with pendant glucose groups and 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and 1,1,1‐tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane (triol) comonomers. The polymers showed shape memory behavior with a switching temperature dependent on the glass transition temperature. The glass transition temperature is tuned by varying the mole ratio between the glucose‐diamine and PEG used in the polymerization. Increasing PEG content resulted in decreasing glass transition temperature, and a glass transition temperature of 39 °C, close to physiological temperatures, was obtained. The fixed shape showed gradual shape recovery behavior, but a fixity of 70% was achieved when the material was stored at 25 °C. The polymer recovered to the permanent shape when heated to 50 °C. Finally, the surface of a film of the polymer can be sulfated to achieve increased blood‐compatibility without sacrificing the shape memory properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2252–2257