Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of functionalized poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)s containing ethylenic, aldehydic, hydroxyl and acrylate pendant groups

New functionalized poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)s (PPOs) containing ethylenic, aldehydic, hydroxyl and acrylate pendant groups were synthesized and their structure, properties and curing kinetics were investigated. The incorporation of polar functional groups resulted in an improvement in the glass transition temperature in the order aldehydic PPO > acrylate PPO > hydroxyl PPO > vinyl PPO > brominated PPO > pristine PPO. Upon thermal curing, the electron-donating substituent in the vinyl PPO resulted in an increase in the activation energy in the order –Pr, –Bu > –Ph > –H, whereas the electron-withdrawing substituent in the acrylate PPO caused a slight decrease in the activation energy.