Polybenzoxazines (pBZ) have been investigated as attractive alternatives to traditional phenolic resins for a variety of high performance applications.  However, it is observed that the majority of bisphenol-based BZ monomers consist of short, rigid cores resulting in highly cross-linked, but extremely brittle materials limiting their use to high modulus/high glass transition temperature (Tg) applications.  Additives and blends (i.e. rubber toughening) have been used to improve the flexural strength; however, incorporating the flexibility directly into the pBZ network would allow versatility and tailorability via a simplistic monomer design.This project investigates molecular design strategies that are available by incorporating long aliphatic cores into the bisphenol, from which benzoxazines can be easily synthesized and purified.  In this study, a series of aliphatic-bridged bisphenol-based pBZ are studied to demonstrate the viability of tailoring the mechanical properties of diphenol-based pBZ networks through monomer design as well as expand potential applications of benzoxazine chemistry.  Specifically, anion exchange membrane (AEM) capabilities are explored by endowing the flexible benzoxazine monomers with quaternary ammonium functionality. The defining characteristic of these systems is the ability to bestow pBZ thin films with a high ion exchange capacity (IEC) � wherein the entire film is comprised of a continuous, cross-linked ionic network capable of conducting anions � while achieving optimal chemical stability, water uptake, flexural strength and modulus, and thermomechanical properties.

Exploring flexible bisphenol-based polybenzoxazines as anion exchange membrane (AEM) materials

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.