Methylol-functional benzoxazines as precursors for high-performance thermoset polymers: Unique simultaneous addition and condensation polymerization behavior

Synthesis, ring-opening polymerization, and properties of benzoxazines based on o- and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohols

Two series of bifunctional benzoxazines were synthesized from o- and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohols ( oHBA and pHBA), three aliphatic diamines containing ether linkage (Jeffamines D230 and D400 and 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine (TTDDA)), and paraformaldehyde. The chemical structures of the benzoxazines were confirmed by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The ring-opening polymerization of the benzoxazines was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and FTIR, respectively. oHBA-based benzoxazines respectively exhibit lower onset temperatures of ring-opening polymerization than pHBA-based counterparts due to the O–H∙∙∙O intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction between the hydrogen of ortho-methylol group and the oxygen in oxazine ring, and oHBA-based polybenzoxazines respectively show lower glass transition temperatures ( Tgs) than pHBA-based counterparts due to the difference in crosslinking density caused by the steric hindrance effect of the position of methylol group on the polymerization of benzoxazine monomers. In each of the two series of benzoxazines, the onset temperature of ring-opening polymerization of D230-based benzoxazine is close to that of TTDDA-based analogue and lower than that of D400-based counterpart owing to the steric effect of the chain length and chain volume of the bridging structure between the oxazine rings on the polymerization, and the Tg of D230-based polybenzoxazine is close to that of TTDDA-based analogue and much higher than that of D400-based counterpart owing to the difference in crosslinking density caused by the steric hindrance effect of the bridging structure on the polymerization of benzoxazine monomers. In addition, all the polybenzoxazines exhibit thermally induced shape memory effect. In each of the two series of polybenzoxazines, the shape recovery rate and ratio of D400-based polybenzoxazine are respectively close to those of D230-based counterpart and higher than those of TTDDA-based analogue due to the difference in network architecture.

Review on the Accelerated and Low-Temperature Polymerization of Benzoxazine Resins: Addition Polymerizable Sustainable Polymers

Due to their outstanding and versatile properties, polybenzoxazines have quickly occupied a great niche of applications. Developing the ability to polymerize benzoxazine resin at lower temperatures than the current capability is essential in taking advantage of these exceptional properties and remains to be most challenging subject in the field. The current review is classified into several parts to achieve this goal. In this review, fundamentals on the synthesis and evolution of structure, which led to classification of PBz in different generations, are discussed. Classifications of PBzs are defined depending on building block as well as how structure is evolved and property obtained. Progress on the utility of biobased feedstocks from various bio-/waste-mass is also discussed and compared, wherever possible. The second part of review discusses the probable polymerization mechanism proposed for the ring-opening reactions. This is complementary to the third section, where the effect of catalysts/initiators has on triggering polymerization at low temperature is discussed extensively. The role of additional functionalities in influencing the temperature of polymerization is also discussed. There has been a shift in paradigm beyond the lowering of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) temperature and other areas of interest, such as adaptation of molecular functionality with simultaneous improvement of properties.

Examining the effect of hydroxyl groups on the thermal properties of polybenzoxazines: using molecular design and Monte Carlo simulation

The influence of methylol and phenolic hydroxyl on the thermal properties of polybenzoxazines has been studied using two monofunctional benzoxazine monomers synthesized from para methylol-/ethyl- phenol, aniline and paraformaldehyde. The chemical structures of the synthesized monomers are confirmed by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ¹³C NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Polymerizations are monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperature (T _g) of each polybenzoxazine is measured by DSC as well as dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), indicating the greatly increased T _g via incorporation of methylol functionality into benzoxazine moiety. Monte Carlo simulations are also applied to further investigate the underlying structure-property relationship between intermolecular hydrogen-bonding network originating from different types of hydroxyl groups and thermal properties of polybenzoxazines. The agreement between the experimental and simulation results provide us with a fundamental understanding of the designing roles in highly thermally stable polybenzoxazines.