Preparation and properties of polybenzoxazinepoly(dimethylsiloxane-co- diphenylsiloxane) hybrids as high performance polymers

Polybenzoxazine, poly(B-a), was hybridized with polysiloxanes by synchronizing two reactions; ring-opening polymerization of benzoxazine (B-a) and the solgel process of diethoxysilanes. As diethoxysilanes, mixtures of diethoxydimethylsilane and diethoxydiphenylsilane in various ratios were used to prepare polysiloxane copolymers, poly(dimethylsiloxane-co-diphenylsiloxane), P(DMS/DPS). The effect of diphenylsiloxane (DPS) content of polysiloxane copolymer on the optical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the hybrids was studied. The progress of the solgel process was confirmed by IR, ¹H-NMR and size exclusion chromatography. Opaque poly(B-a)-P(DMS/DPS) hybrid films were obtained at high dimethylsiloxane (DMS) content corresponding to the phase separation. The domain size of the polysiloxane was evaluated from the scanning electron microscope. Meanwhile, transparent hybrid films were obtained at high DPS content, corresponding to the homogeneous phase as observed from the scanning electron microscope. The hybrid films revealed higher tensile strength and elongation at break than pristine poly(B-a) as a function of DPS content. Dynamic viscoelastic analyses of the hybrids at high DMS content revealed two glass transition temperatures (T_g) corresponding to polysiloxane and poly(B-a) components, while one T_g was observed at high DPS content. Thermogravimetric analysis of the hybrids revealed that the thermal stability of the poly(B-a)-polysiloxane hybrids was higher than pristine poly(B-a) depending on the DPS content.