Study on thermal degradation mechanism of a cured aldehyde-functional benzoxazine

A cured product of aldehyde-functional benzoxazine has good heat-resistant performance. The thermal degradation process of this polybenzoxazine was actively studied by TGA-FTIR and Py-GC/MS. The temperature range of pyrolysis and the major products were determined by TGA-FTIR. A stepwise-temperature testing method based on Py-GC/MS was employed to identify the structures and contents of the pyrolysis products at different temperature stages. Transformation and chemical structures of the polymer bulk during the pyrolysis process were speculated. The results showed that the reactions of the aldehyde groups can form special crosslinking structures which effectively prevent the release of phenols during the pyrolysis process. Additionally, benzophenone compounds and carbon monoxide were detected. Thermal degradation mechanism of a cured aldehyde-functional benzoxazine.