High performance low-k cyanate ester resins with a thermally stable cyclodextrin microsphere

A new biomass, cyclodextrin microsphere (M-CDP) with high thermal stability, small size and suitable content of –OH groups was synthesized and was then used to develop high performance low-k cyanate ester (CE) resins. The structure and properties of M-CDP/CE resins were systematically studied. Compared with the CE resin, the M-CDP/CE system has better curing characteristics reflected by significantly decreased curing temperature and reaction enthalpy; moreover, M-CDP/CE resins show stable and lower dielectric constants as well as similar dielectric loss over the whole frequency range tested. The dielectric constant of M-CDP/CE resin with 5 wt% M-CDP is as low as 2.92 at 104 Hz. In addition, M-CDP/CE resins with suitable contents of M-CDP have better thermal stability than CE resins. These attractive performances of M-CDP/CE resins are attributed to the different networks induced by the unique structure of M-CDP. This investigation provides a new and easy method to prepare a thermally stable cyclodextrin derivative and corresponding low-k resins based on biomass materials.