High-performance polymer applications such as medical devices, aerospace components and others have led to a demand for polymers with stable and robust properties at elevated temperatures. Traditional polymers used in these environments, such as polyimides, are often synthesized using prepolymers, requiring solvent based depositions and removal of side products. Inclusion of these volatile species presents a challenge for post-processing of bulk samples, where leachable or volatile molecules can exit the final network and react further with outside packaging. Thiol-ene polymers, a potential candidate for these applications, are often polymerized via radical or nucleophilic (Michael addition) means. However, both routes generally require catalytic stimulation to proceed in a timely fashion. Using a copolymer network composed of maleimides and multi-functional thiols, a softening, high glass transition (Tg) thiol-click network is described for use as a viable option for applications in high heat environments.<br/><br/>In this study, several comparable networks are formed to investigate the mechanical properties of final polymer networks—such as Tg, Young’s modulus, thermal degradation temperatures, and other characteristics—to isolate the contribution made by the succinimide thioether linkage, specifically for the increased glass transition above 100°C for an amorphous polymer network. The terminal reactive groups in question (alkenes, epoxies, and maleimides) are copolymerized with multi-functional thiols, and the thermomechanical properties and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrograms are explored.<br/><br/>These polymers show promise as a possible softening thiol-click network for use in high temperature, small molecule sensitive environments such as high vacuum systems and the semiconductor industry.

High glass transition thiol-click networks from maleimides

251st National Meeting (2016)

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