Synthesis, Characterization and Thermal Properties of Imide-Containing Phthalonitrile Polymers

A series of novel imide-containing phthalonitrile polymers with flexible aryl ether units have been synthesized and characterized. Bisphenol monomers were synthesized by a multi-step synthesis involving a condensation reaction between aromatic aldehydes and 2,6-dimethyl phenol, respectively. The bisphenols obtained were reacted with 4-nitrophthalonitrile to form aryl ether linkage containing bisphthalonitriles. These products were hydrolyzed to tetra carboxylic acid, which were subsequently converted into corresponding dianhydrides. The obtained dianhydrides were reacted with synthesized 4-(4′-aminophenoxy) phthalonitrile by thermal imidization leading to the formation of imide-containing phthalonitrile monomers. The synthesized monomers were cured with 3.5 wt% of aromatic diamine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone(DDS). The structure and properties of all compounds synthesized were confirmed by using elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DSC, TGA and rheometric studies. The cure temperatures are found to be in the range of 283–302°C, the temperature of 5% and 10% weight loss from TGA are in the range of 433–492°C in N2 and 424–478°C in air, char yield at 800°C is 40–51%.