Improved Processing and Properties for Polyphenylene Oxide Modified by Diallyl Orthophthalate Prepolymer

Diallyl orthophthalate (DAOP) prepolymer was investigated as a reactive plasticizer to improve the processability of thermoplastics. The rheology of blends of DAOP prepolymer initiated by 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-diphenylbutane (DMDPB) and polyphenylene oxide (PPO) was monitored during the curing process, and their thermal properties and morphology in separated phases were also studied. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that the cure degree of the reactively plasticized DAOP prepolymer was reduced with increasing PPO due to the dilution effect. The increasing amount of the DAOP prepolymer led to a gradual decrease in the viscosity of the blends and the rheology behavior was consistent with the chemical gelation of DAOP prepolymer in blends. This indicated that the addition of the DAOP prepolymer effectively improved processability. The phase separation occurring during curing of the blend and the transition from the static to dynamic mode significantly influences the development of the morphology of the blend corresponding to limited evolution of the conversion around the gel point.