Facile approach to functionalizing polymers with specific chemical groups by an ozone treatment: Preparation of crosslinkable poly(vinylidene fluoride) possessing benzoxazine pendent groups

A facile method for modifying a polymer with specific chemical groups was conducted through the incorporation of hydroxylbenzene groups into an ozone-treated polymer. The hydroxylbenzene pendent groups on the functionalized polymer provided reactive sites for further chemical reaction and modification. A poly(vinylidene fluoride) possessing benzoxazine pendent groups (PVDF-Bz) was prepared to demonstrate this polymer modification. The performance of the polymer functionalization and chemical structure characterization were determined with Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. PVDF-Bz was a crosslinkable polymer, and the crosslinked poly(vinylidene fluoride) exhibited improved mechanical properties.