Synthesis and properties of methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride-cured fluorinated epoxy resin 2,2-bisphenol hexafluoropropane diglycidyl ether

The fluorinated epoxy resin, 2,2-bisphenol hexafluoropropane diglycidyl ether (DGEBHF) was synthesized through a two-step procedure, and the chemical structure was confirmed by H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), C-13 NMR, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Moreover, DGEBHF was thermally cured with methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA). The results clearly indicated that the cured DGEBHF/MHHPA exhibited higher glass transition temperature (T-g 147 degrees C) and thermal decomposition temperature at 5% weight loss (T-5 372 degrees C) than those (T-g 131.2 degrees C; T-5 362 degrees C) of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)/MHHPA. In addition, the incorporation of bis-trifluoromethyl groups led to enhanced dielectric properties with lower dielectric constant (D-k 2.93) of DGEBHF/MHHPA compared with cured DGEBA resins (D-k 3.25). The cured fluorinated epoxy resin also gave lower water absorption measured in two methods relative to its nonfluorinated counterparts. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.