Preparation and characterization of maleimide-terminated poly(arylene ether sulfone) oligomers of various molecular weights

Abstract

A new variation in the bismaleimide (BMI) resin family, maleimide-terminated poly(oxy-1,4-phenylene sulfonyl-1,4-phenylene) oligomers, has been synthesized. The preparation of oligomers ( n = 1–12) is described in this study. The structure of these oligomers is characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. These oligomers are light yellow to light gray powders that can be melted or dissolved in solvents. Their terminating group bismaleimide has relatively high reactivity. Therefore, these BMI resins can be cured at 250°C to form a crosslinked product. Since the backbone chain is poly(arylene ether sulfone), the cured polymers have high T g 's, which increased from 220°C to higher than 340°C as the number of repeating units n of the corresponding oligomers decreases.