Polymerizable ionic liquids and their actuation in an electric field are a combination of material and properties with unique potential to display structural and fluid dynamics above that found in small molecule ionic liquids. In an effort to blend ionic liquid nature with actuation response, we have synthesized a new ionic liquid ammonium sulfonate monomer and polymer. The liquid temperature ranges of both the monomer and polymer ionic liquid systems are quite large extending from their respective glass transitions (Tg) of -57 and -49 degrees C to decomposition at approximately 200 degrees C. Particularly remarkable is the small Tg increment that accompanies the transformation from monomer to polymer. The electrowetting behavior of the polymer and of the monomer presents an interesting contrast. This communication will encompass the polymerization, characterization, and actuation of these new ionic liquids.

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A versatile synthetic method has been developed for oligomeric aliphatic–aromatic ether containing phthalonitrile (PN) resins and applied to the preparation of three unique resin systems. The oligomeric PN monomers were prepared from the reaction of an excess amount of bisphenol A with a dihalo‐aliphatic containing compound in the presence of K2CO3 in dimethylsulfoxide, followed by end‐capping with 4‐nitrophthalonitrile in a two‐step, one‐pot reaction. These PN resin systems exhibited excellent viscosities for molding various shaped articles after thermal curing to yield crosslinked polymers. These polymers offered more mechanical flexibility, when compared with an all aromatic backbone, while still maintaining good thermal stability, dielectric properties, and low water absorption. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 2186–2191

The renewable triphenols, resveratrol and dihydroresveratrol, were used in the preparation of two new phthalonitrile resins (PN), each containing three phthalonitrile groups. These are the first reported PN resins generated from a renewable feedstock. These amorphous PN resins were characterized thoroughly by DSC, NMR spectroscopy and rheometry. The monomers exhibited excellent rheometric viscosities suitable for resin transfer molding and resin infusion molding. After complete cure, the PN polymers exhibited thermal stability to above 500 8C and no glass transition temperature (T g ). As a result of the highly cross-linked nature of the network, these materials exhibited a low water uptake of 1 AE 0.2 % and dielectric constant values of approximately 3.0. These results suggest that resveratrol-derived PN resins are excellent candidates for use in maritime environments and aerospace applications.[a] Dr.

An improved method has been developed to produce an oligomeric sulfonyl-containing phthalo nitrile with better processability. The oligomeric phthalonitrile monomer is prepared from the reaction of an excess amount of bisphenol A with 4-(chlorophenyl)sulfone in the presence of a mixed base system (NaOH/K 2 CO 3 ) in a dimethylsulfoxide/toluene solvent mixture, followed by end-capping with 4-nitrophthalonitrile in a two-step, one-pot reaction. This phthalonitrile resin exhibits lower viscosities than previously reported systems for molding into various shapes. After being thermally cured to yield crosslinked polymers, this sulfonyl-based polymer demonstrates superb mechanical properties and thermo-oxidative stability, absorbs less than 1.0 weight percent water, and maintains good dielectric properties.