Synthesis and properties of a novel high temperature pyridine-containing phthalonitrile polymer

A novel pyridine-containing aromatic phthalonitrile monomer, 2,6-bis[4-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)benzoyl]pyridine (BCBP) was synthesized from the nitro displacement of 4-nitrophthalonitrile by the phenoxide of 2,6-bis (4-hydroxybenzoyl)pyridine (BHBP). 4-(Aminophenoxy) phthalonitrile (APPH) was selected to promote the curing reaction, and the curing behavior has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), suggesting a wide processing window about 64 °C. Different curing additive concentrations resulted in polymers with different crosslinking degrees and subsequently influenced the performance of resins. The resulting BCBP polymer exhibited high glass transition temperatures exceeding 400 °C, outstanding thermo-oxidative stability with weight retention of 95% at 530 °C, indicating a significant improvement in thermal properties endowed by pyridine units. Additionally, it also showed a lower overall water absorption after submersion in boiling water for 50 hours. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54 , 3819–3825