High-performance maleimide and nitrile-functionalized benzoxazines with good processibility for advanced composites applications

A maleimide and 2-aminobenzonitrile (MIan) based benzoxazine has been synthesized and characterized. This benzoxazine has maleimide and nitrile functionalities that can polymerize, resulting in a highly crosslinked material. Incorporation of the imide group increases the shear viscosity compared to monofunctional benzoxazines but not as high as difunctional benzoxazines, allowing good processibility, while maintaining excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Catalysts, epoxy copolymerization, and rubber interlayer methods are utilized to optimize the composite properties. The 60% carbon cloth-reinforced resin has achieved the flexural strength over 1 GPa. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.