Poly‐2‐oxazolidones with tailored physical properties synthesized by catalyzed polyaddition of 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate and different bisphenol‐based diepoxides

In the current study, we investigated poly‐2‐oxazolidones containing one of four different diglycidyl ethers carrying different bulky bisphenol centers. With increasing steric hindrance of the bisphenol‐based diepoxide from bisphenol F to bisphenol A, Z and TMC, the glass transition temperature (Tg) increased markedly from 156 to 211 °C, whereas the plateau modulus of the polymer, i.e. the chain flexibility as determined from rheological characterization, remained almost unchanged. This study demonstrates the general feasibility of the chemical design of poly‐2‐oxazolidones as an amorphous high‐performance thermoplastic. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry Poly‐2‐oxazolidones synthesized by catalyzed polyaddition of 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate and different bisphenol‐based diepoxides were found to have markedly increased Tg values with increasing steric hindrance of the diepoxide. This study demonstrates the general feasibility of poly‐2‐oxazolidinone chemical design for high‐tech applications.