Thermally reversible crosslinking of polystyrene via the furan–maleimide Diels–Alder reaction

Mixtures of maleimidomethylated polystyrene with difurfuryl adipate or with furfuryl alcohol-esterified polystyrene-co-(maleic anhydride)] underwent thermally reversible Diels–Alder crosslinking. Reversal of crosslinking occurred rapidly at 150°C. The instability of the furfuryl group, however, limits the practicability of the reaction. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.