Preparation of polysiloxane oligomers bearing benzoxazine side groups and tunable properties of their thermosets

ABSTRACT A new pathway for the preparation of polysiloxane oligomers bearing benzoxazine side groups were reported via the hydrolysis and co‐polycondensation of benzoxazinyl siloxane (SBZ) with dimethyldiethoxysilane (DEDMS). The structures of SBZ and oligomers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The average molecular weights of the obtained oligomers were estimated from size exclusion chromatography and 1H‐NMR to be in the range of 2000–4000. The oligomers gave transparent films by casting in THF solution. The films were further thermally treated to produce crosslinked films via the ring opening polymerization of benzoxazine side group. The effects of siloxane content on polymerization behavior, glass transition temperature, and mechanical properties of the polybenzoxazine thermosets were investigated. Tensile test of the films revealed that the elongation at break increased with increasing siloxane content. The elongation at break of poly(I‐50) was up to 12.1%. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the thermosets showed that the Tgs were in the range of 119–165°C. Thermogravimetic analysis also revealed a better thermal stability as evidenced by the 5% weight loss temperatures in the range of 363–390°C. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40960.