A New Heat-Resistant Polymer from Dimer Diamine Bismaleimide. Part 1. Preparation and Free Radical Cure of Dimer Diamine Bismaleimide

Abstract : The preparation and free radical cure of the bismaleimide of dimer diamine is described where the polymer shows excellent thermal stability comparable to the aromatic substituted bismaleimide counterparts. An improved process for making the 'monomeric' bismaleimide of dimer diamine provides good yields of highly pure material. Contamination by polymer or other by-products commonly encountered is eliminated by a process that uses N,N'- dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/hydroxybenzotriazole co-reagents for cyclodehydration of the precursor bismaleamic acid of dimer diamine. Purification of the crude product can be accomplished by chromatography.