POS1-1413
Synthesis of Metal-Free Low-Molecular-Weight Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and Methacrylic Anhydride End-Capping for Enhanced Processability and Resin Miscibility
When and Where
Nov 30, -0001
12:00am - 12:00am
Presenter(s)
So hyun Park (Green and Sustainable Materials R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology ; Department of Chemical Engineering, Sung Kyun Kwan University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) has attracted attention as a high-frequency copper clad laminate (CCL) material owing to its low dielectric constant/loss and excellent thermal stability. Conventionally, PPO is synthesized to a high molecular weight using a copper catalyst. However, residual copper ions degrade dielectric properties, and high molecular weight limits processability and miscibility with other resins.
Recently, studies have controlled PPO's molecular weight via redistribution reactions to improve processability and miscibility. However, this reaction requires hazardous substances such as bisphenol A, and random chain scission and recombination broaden the molecular weight distribution. Above all, residual copper ions from conventional polymerization remain unresolved.
In this study, low-molecular-weight PPO (LMW-PPO) was directly polymerized from monomers via a metal-free oxidative polymerization method, without copper or a redistribution process. In addition, methacrylic anhydride (MA) end-capping was introduced to improve compatibility with resins, lowering the Tg and enhancing processability.
Chemical, structural, and thermal properties of the synthesized LMW-PPO and MA end-capped PPO were characterized using FT-IR, ¹H NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. FT-IR and ¹H NMR analyses confirmed that end-group functionalization via MA end-capping was successfully achieved. GPC and DSC analyses revealed a lower molecular weight and Tg compared to conventional PPO, while TGA analysis showed that the 5% weight-loss temperature remained above 400°C, confirming that improved processability and high thermal stability were achieved simultaneously.
These results show that metal-free LMW-PPO synthesized without a redistribution reaction is a promising dielectric material with a simplified process, excellent processability, and enhanced compatibility, showing strong potential for high-frequency CCLs and high-performance polymer composites.
Recently, studies have controlled PPO's molecular weight via redistribution reactions to improve processability and miscibility. However, this reaction requires hazardous substances such as bisphenol A, and random chain scission and recombination broaden the molecular weight distribution. Above all, residual copper ions from conventional polymerization remain unresolved.
In this study, low-molecular-weight PPO (LMW-PPO) was directly polymerized from monomers via a metal-free oxidative polymerization method, without copper or a redistribution process. In addition, methacrylic anhydride (MA) end-capping was introduced to improve compatibility with resins, lowering the Tg and enhancing processability.
Chemical, structural, and thermal properties of the synthesized LMW-PPO and MA end-capped PPO were characterized using FT-IR, ¹H NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. FT-IR and ¹H NMR analyses confirmed that end-group functionalization via MA end-capping was successfully achieved. GPC and DSC analyses revealed a lower molecular weight and Tg compared to conventional PPO, while TGA analysis showed that the 5% weight-loss temperature remained above 400°C, confirming that improved processability and high thermal stability were achieved simultaneously.
These results show that metal-free LMW-PPO synthesized without a redistribution reaction is a promising dielectric material with a simplified process, excellent processability, and enhanced compatibility, showing strong potential for high-frequency CCLs and high-performance polymer composites.
