A novel benzimidazole-containing phthalonitrile monomer with unique polymerization behavior

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry, 2012-12, Vol.50 (23), p.4977-4982
• Main Authors: Wu, Dimeng, Zhao, Yongchao, Zeng, Ke, Yang, Gang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; curing of polymers; Exact sciences and technology; high performance polymers; high temperature materials; Organic polymers; phthalonitrile resin; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts
• ISSN: 0887-624X; 1099-0518
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.26331

A novel benzimidazole‐containing phthalonitrile monomer (BIPN) was synthesized. The chemical structure of BIPN was confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry measurement revealed that the self‐promoted polymerization reaction of the BIPN proceeds extremely sluggish and showed low polymerization exothermic effect. Subsequent rheological measurement displayed that the BIPN was able to keep a stable and low melt viscosity for 4 h at 300 °C, 2 h at 310 °C, and 50 min at 330 °C. The derived BIPN polymers showed excellent thermal properties revealed by thermogravimetric analysis, which were better than those of the corresponding polymer derived from phthalonitrile monomer without benzimidazole moiety. IR analysis confirmed the occurrence of the triazine ring within the polymer crosslinking sites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012 In this work, a novel benzimidazole‐containing phthalonitrile monomer (BIPN) was synthesized. The self‐promoted polymerization reaction of the BIPN was unexpectedly sluggish. Therefore, high temperature resins with unprecedented polymerization behavior (outstanding melt stability (>300 °C) and low polymerization exothermic effect) were realized. The results open a new entrance for designing high temperature/performance resins, where the molecular weight range of the aromatic heterocyclic spacers can be broadened and more flexible chemical structures can be introduced into the spacers of the resins.