Synthesis and characterization of poly(arylene ether)s and poly(arylene ether imidazole)s
Poly(arylene ether)s, poly(arylene ether imidazole)s and poly(arylene ether coimidazole)s are under investigation as part of a structure/property relationship study. The objective of this study is to identify polymers or copolymers with an attractive combination of properties for use as toughening agents for epoxies. The copolymers are being studied as possible toughness modifiers for epoxy resins because of their high glass transition temperatures, their high toughness and the ability of the active hydrogen on the imidazole moiety to react with the oxirane ring of epoxies. Homopolymers and copolymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, thin-film tensile properties and neat resin flexural and toughness properties.