Solvent Resistant Thermoplastic Composite Matrices

The following approaches improved the solvent resistance and raised the Tg of thermoplastics: end-capping aligomers with ethynyl groups; incorporating ethynyl groups pendent along the polymer chain; and correcting polymers containing pendent ethynyl groups with a low molecular weight diethynyl compound. The following conclusions were reached: (1) film and composite properties off an ethynyl-terminated sulfone were better than those of UDEL (trademark); (2) fracture energy of an ethynyl-terminated sulfone was lower than that of UDEL (trademark); (3) residual palladium in the cured ethynyl-terminated sulfone lower the thermooxidative stability of the cured resin; (4) the properties of a phenoxy resin were altered considerably by placing pendent ethynyl groups along the polymer chain; and (5) property trade-offs must be considered when thermoplastics are modified via reactant groups.