Synergistic Physical Properties of Co-Cured Networks Formed from Di- and Tri-cyanate Esters
Abstract
The co-cyclotrimerization of two tricyanate ester monomers, Primaset PT-30 and 1,2,3-tris(4-cyanato)propane (FlexCy) in equal parts by weight with Primaset LECy, a liquid dicyanate ester, was investigated for the purpose of exploring synergistic performance benefits. The monomer mixtures formed stable, homogeneous blends that remained in the supercooled liquid state for long periods at room temperature, thereby providing many of the processing advantages of LECy in combination with significantly higher glass transition temperatures (315-360 deg C at full cure) due to the presence of the tricyanate-derived segments in the conetwork. Interestingly, the glass transition temperatures of the conetworks after cure at 210 C, at full cure, and after immersion in 85 deg C water for 96 h were all higher than predicted by the Flory Fox equation, most significantly for the samples immersed in hot water. Conetworks comprising equal parts by weight of PT-30 and LECy retained a wet glass transition temperature near 270 deg C. The onset of thermochemical degradation for conetworks was dominated by that of the thermally less stable component, while char yields after the initial degradation step were close to values predicted by a linear rule of mixtures. Values for moisture uptake and density in the conetworks also showed behavior that was not clearly different from a linear rule of mixtures. An analysis of the flexural properties of catalyzed versions of these conetworks revealed that, when cured under the same conditions, conetworks containing 50 wt % PT-30 and 50 wt % LECy exhibited higher modulus than networks containing only LECy while conetworks containing 50 wt % FlexCy and 50 wt % LECy exhibited a lower modulus but significantly higher flexural strength and strain to failure. Thus, in the case of FlexCy , LECy was copolymerized with a tricyanate that provided both improved toughness and a higher glass transition temperature
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA599243
Entities
People
- Andrew J. Guenthner
- Christopher M. Sahagun
- David D. Swanson
- Gregory R. Yandek
- Joseph M Mabry
- Josiah T. Reams
- Kevin R. Lamison
- Matthew C. Davis
- Sean M. Ramirez
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory