Poly(ether imide)-modified benzoxazine blends: Influences of phase separation and hydrogen bonding interactions on the curing reaction

Polymer blends of polybenzoxazine (PBZ)/poly(ether imide) (PEI) were prepared by the in situ curing reaction of benzoxazine (BZ) resin in the presence of PEI. Phase separation induced by the polymerization of BZ resin was observed. The rheological behaviors, morphologies, and their evolution process of BZ/PEI blends were investigated by rheometer and scanning electron microscope. Phase separation that took place at the early stage of the curing reaction effectively reduced the dilution effect of PEI. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results suggested that hydrogen bonds between PBZ and PEI existed during the whole curing process, although weakened with phase separation. The decrease of isoconversion activation energy indicated that the polymerization of BZ resin was facilitated in the presence of such kind of hydrogen-bonding interactions. By changing the weight fraction of PEI, extensive phase separation was obtained in PBZ blends with 5 and 20 wt % of PEI, in which systems, the crosslinking density and glass transition temperature (Tg) of PBZ-rich phase were greatly improved compared to this single PBZ system. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013