High-temperature properties of rolivsan thermosetting resins (network copolymers of (di)vinylaromatic ethers and cyclized (di)methacrylates)

Abstract

Rigid chemical structure provides for excellent thermal and thermo-mechanical properties of heat resistant organic polymers, but affects their fabricability. For the first time a new original chemical approach to the problem of combining high-temperature stability, durability of thermosetting polymers with environmental safety and easy processability has been developed and demonstrated in detail. The key methodological concept was introducing a new structure-forming tool (α-hydroxyethyl)phenylene functional groups) into the chemistry of thermally stable organic polymers. The main goal of this work was to reveal structure–property correlations for rolivsans and products of their cure; using the obtained data would allow to combine resin processability with high thermo-oxidative stability, good heat deformation characteristics and mechanical strength of the prepared polymeric materials. The properties of network copolymers of (di)vinylaromatic ethers with thermosensitive (di)methacrylates and copolymer-based composites were studied. These copolymers were capable of changing their (micro)structure, crosslink density and mechanical properties in the process of thermal treatment. Rolivsan resin compositions with equimolar concentrations of styrene-like and methacrylate end groups have shown optimal combination of fabricability, mechanical strength and heat deflection temperature (HDT). It was found that HDT of rolivsan castings/glass-reinforced plastics was 250 °C/275 °С. Rolivsan copolymers/composites could withstand short-duration temperature spikes (up to 350 °C).