Effect of the polymer matrix on the thermal behaviour of a furan-maleimide type adduct in the molten state

The effect of three different polymer matrices on the stability of the exo-adduct formed from N-Phenylmaleimide (PM) and furfuryl alcohol (FAl) toward retro Diels-Alder reaction was studied. First, a stereospecific synthesis of the exo-adduct was carried out at the condensed state and for a best understanding, its thermal properties was reported. The temperature of the rDA reaction of the exo-adduct in polyolefins (a low density polyethylene and a random copolymer of ethylene and glycidyl methacrylate) was found similar to the pure exo-adduct rDA reaction temperature. In a poly(vinylacetate)-g-polycaprolactone matrix this temperature was distinctly lower. In this last matrix, the reversibility of the rDA reaction was proved by the formation of the endo-adduct FAlPM during cooling.