High temperature matrix resins based on bispropargyl ethers - part 1: Effect of copper salts on the thermal polymerisation of bispropargylether of bisphenol-A and the thermal stability of these polymers

The compound bispropargyl ether of bisphenol-A (BPEBPA) is prepared using phase transfer catalyst. Different copper salts like cuprous chloride (CuCl), cupric chloride dihydrate (CuCl2 center dot 2H(2)O), copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4 center dot 5H(2)O), basic copper carbonate (CuCO3 center dot Cu(OH)(2)), cupric acetate monohydrate ((CH3COO)(2)Cu center dot H2O), and cupric oxide (CuO) are blended separately with BPEBPA (1%, w/w) and the curing characteristics of these materials are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The presence of copper salt in BPEBPA shifts the curing temperature to a lower temperature region. The materials are thermally cured and the structural characterisation and the thermal properties of these cross-linked materials are investigated using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Of the different copper salts investigated, the presence of copper sulphate pentahydrate in BPEBPA increases the thermal stability of the cured BPEBPA. The thermal degradation products of thermally cured pure BPEBPA and copper salts containing BPEBPA are studied using TG-FTIR. The phenols, substituted phenols, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and alkenes are major volatiles evolved during the thermal degradation of these materials.