Ca. Fyfe et al., NMR INVESTIGATIONS OF THE POSSIBLE CROSS-REACTIONS BETWEEN CYANATE AND EPOXY-RESINS, Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry, 32(12), 1994, pp. 2203-2221
The possible cross reactions indicated by solid-state NMR between cyan
ate functionalized resin and epoxy functionalized resin have been inve
stigated by using both natural abundance and labeled monofunctional mo
del compounds. These soluble products were isolated and purified by si
lica gel adsorption chromatography and gel permeation chromatography.
They were fully characterized by high resolution H--1, C--13, N-15-NMR
spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry. The major cross-reaction produ
ct is a racemic mixture of enantiomers, which contain an oxazolidinone
ring formed by one cyanate molecule and two epoxy molecules. However,
epoxy consumption lags cyanate consumption in the overall reaction as
triazine formation from the cyanate is much faster than the two compe
ting reactions, the cross reaction between cyanate and epoxy, and the
self-polymerization of epoxy, under the conditions investigated. The c
ross reaction between cyanate and epoxy is limited. Approximately 12%
of cross reaction between cyanate and epoxy was found in the overall r
eaction. In addition to the cross reactions of epoxy and cyanate, the
reactions of epoxy and the carbamate, which is the major side product
for the curing reaction of cyanate resin in solution, have also been i
nvestigated, and the mechanism of these reactions discussed. From the
reactions of epoxy and carbamate, several products related to cross re
action between epoxy and cyanate have been isolated and identified. It
is suggested that the reaction of epoxy and carbamate is one of the p
athways in the overall cross reaction between epoxy and cyanate resins
. Finally, the mechanism of the overall cross-curing reaction between
the diepoxy and dicyanate mixed resins is discussed. (C) 1994 John Wil
ey & Sons, Inc.