Reactive Alder‐ene blend of diallyl bisphenol A novolac and bisphenol A bismaleimide: synthesis, cure and adhesion studies

A novel, addition‐curable novolac resin (ABPF) was synthesized by the reaction of diallyl bisphenol A with formaldehyde using p ‐toluene sulfonic acid as the catalyst. The synthesis conditions were optimized to obtain soluble polymer of desirable molecular weight distribution which was characterized by FT‐IR, NMR and SEC. ABPF was reactively blended with bisphenol A bismaleimide (BMIP) and cured through an Alder‐ene reaction at high temperatures. The cure characteristics of BMIP–ABPF blend with a maleimide:allyl phenol stoichiometry of 1:1 were studied using FT‐IR, DSC and DMA, which evidenced the multi‐step cure reactions taking place in the system. Cure optimization was evaluated by DSC, DMA and adhesive property tests. The moderately crosslinked blend was conducive for achieving the optimum adhesive properties on aluminium substrates. Retention of the adhesive properties was greater than 100% at 150 °C.