Synthesis of metal‐containing cured resins from divalent metal salts of mono(hydroxyethyl) phthalate, anhydrides, and bisepoxides

Synthesis of novel metal‐containing cured resins based on divalent metal salts of mono(hydroxyethyl) phthalate were investigated by the metal salt–anhydride–bisepoxide reactions. As the anhydrides, maleic anhydride (MA) and hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HPA) were used, and hexahydrophthalic acid diglycidyl ester (HPDG), bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADG), and ethylene glycol bis(glycidyl phthalate) (EBGP) were the bisepoxides used. The reactions were further studied in model reactions using the Ca salt of monoethyl phthalate. The metal carboxylate groups of the metal salts catalyzed the reactions. The reactivity of the bisepoxides decreased in the order HPDG ≫ BADG > EBGP, and MA was more reactive than HPA. Some of the metal‐containing cured resins obtained showed excellent physical properties. Resistance to chemical attack and boiling water, thermal behavior, and electrical resistance are also discussed.