Mechanism of thermal polymerization of cyanate ester systems: Chromatographic and spectroscopic studies

The mechanisms and kinetics of polymerization of mono- and difunctional cyanate esters are investigated using chromatographic (HPLC) and spectroscopic methods (UV, liquid and solid-state NMR, and FTIR). The results obtained after chromatographic separation and identification of the chemical species present in the reaction medium have enabled us to propose a reaction path and a kinetic model for these thermally polymerized systems. Finally, the polymerization of cyanate ester was studied in the presence of different catalysts (imidazole, AcAcCu and AcAcCr) added directly, without solvent, and showed their influence on mechanisms. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.