Synthesis and calorimetric curing study of amino‐terminated PEEK oligomers

Abstract Amino‐terminated polyetheretherketone (PEEK) oligomers were prepared by the condensation of 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone and hydroquinone in the presence of a calculated excess of m‐aminophenol endblocker. The molecular weight of the oligomer was controlled by the manipulation of the ratio of difluoride to hydroquinone with the appropriate stoichiometric amount of m‐aminophenol ensuring amino termination. The thermally induced self‐crosslinking of these oligomers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Curing was found to be quite slow, taking up to 1 h to reach completion at 668 K. Cured materials were all completely amorphous in contrast to the semi‐crystalline starting material. The limiting Tg reached on curing was found to be proportional to the percentage of reactive terminal groups, as would be expected.