Synthesis and cure mechanism characterization of phenylethynyl-terminated imide oligomers

Polymer matrix composites (PMC) are being investigated by the Air Force for use in engine applications, which are comprised of an intermediate carbon fiber-reinforced high temperature phenylethynyl-terminated fluorinated polyimide resin. The high-temperature phenylethynyl-terminated fluorinated polyimide resin is prepared from 4-(phenylethynyl)phthalic anhydride (4-PEPA), p-phenylenediamine (p-PDA), and hexafluoroisopropylidene bisphthalic dianhydride (6FDA). In order for these materials to be exploited to their full potential, many fundamental aspects of the polymer system need to be better understood.;For this study, the high-temperature cure mechanism, the chemical structures of cure reaction products, and the effect of physical properties of impurities in the 4-PEPA monomer were investigated. A phenylethynyl-terminated imide model compound, N-(3-phenoxybenzene)-4-phenylethynylphthalimide (N-PBPEP), was prepared using both industrial 4-PEPA and recrystallized 4-PEPA. The thermal cure of this low molecular weight compound was studied using a variety of analytical techniques including differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS). N-PBPEP made from industrial 4-PEPA begins curing 25°C later than N-PBPEP made from recrystallized 4-PEPA, indicating that thermal cure is affected by the purity of the 4-PEPA starting material. Also, both versions form an 830 g/mol dimer with three possible mechanistic pathways.