Semi-aromatic copolyesters with high strength and fire safety via hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking

Currently, it is still a huge challenge to prepare flame-retardant polymeric materials with excellent fire safety, high strength, good durability and processability. We here propose a H-bonding cross-linking strategy that can simultaneously endow polymers with excellent flame retardancy, non-dripping behavior and enhanced strength. In this work, a novel benzimidazole monomer, 2-(4-methoxycarbonyl-phenyl)-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester (PBM) has been designed as a H-bonding cross-linking monomer to prepare poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based copolyesters (PET-co-PBMs). Interestingly, along with the hydrogen bonding, the pi-pi stacking interactions from the benzimidazole groups also exist. Due to the formation of physical crosslinking network via hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking, the melt strength of copolyesters are greatly improved. Combining with char forming ability of benzimidazole, PET-co-PBMs display excellent fire safety. Moreover, PET-co-PBMs also exhibit higher glass transition temperature, higher mechanical strength and good processability. This work provides a promising strategy to design polymers with high strength, good processability, excellent flame retardance and anti-dripping performance.