A novel self-promoted curing phthalonitrile monomer was synthesized via substitution reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile and 3-aminophenol at the presence of K 2 CO 3 in the dimethylsulfoxide solvent. The phthalonitrile was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic rheological analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis. The phthalonitrile monomer can be thermally polymerized with self-promoted curing behaviors. The prepolymerization reaction of the phthalonitrile prepolymer was investigated and the phthalonitrile prepolymer exhibited the desirable processing feature. With the curing process of low curing temperature and short curing time, the cured polymers exhibited high glass transition temperatures (241-270°C) and excellent thermal stabilities with the 5 % weight loss temperature (395-441°C). The novel phthalonitrile can be a good candidate as matrix for high performance polymeric materials.

To develop high performances of inorganic fibers/polymer composites, the interfacial interaction and dispersal of fibers are the two essential issues to be considered. Herein, we report the surface decoration of basalt fibers (BF) with hybrid Fe 3 O 4 microspheres (FePc-Fe 3 O 4 ) and their microwave absorption application in bisphthalonitrile composites was systematically investigated. Firstly, the hybrid Fe 3 O 4 microspheres with a diameter of $140 nm were self-assembled onto the basalt fibers via a simple solvothermal route, as confirmed by SEM and TEM observations. The obtained BF (FePc-Fe 3 O 4 -BF) displayed magnetic performance with excellent interfacial adhesion application. Secondly, the FePc-Fe 3 O 4 -BF reinforced bisphthalonitrile composite laminates were studied for improvement in their microwave absorption, mechanical and thermal properties through strategically incorporating the FePc-Fe 3 O 4 microwave absorber at the fiber/fabric-matrix interfaces. The calculated reflection losses showed that the best microwave absorption reached À31.1 dB at 5.9 GHz with a matching thickness of 5 mm.The results indicated that investigation of the decoration of basalt fibers and the addition of a special microwave absorber opened up a new route to develop the composite laminate as a promising candidate for microwave absorbing materials in high-temperature applications. Besides, we found that the FePc-Fe 3 O 4 -BF reinforced bisphthalonitrile composite laminate, with excellent thermal stability, revealed an approximately 189% increase in flexural strength and also offers better microwave absorption compared to that of the BF reinforced bisphthalonitrile composite laminate.

A novel polyarylene ether nitrile terminated with phthalonitrile (PEN-t-Ph) was synthesized by a simple solution polycondensation of biphenyl and hydroquinone with 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile, followed by termination with 4-nitrophthalonitrile. The PENt-Ph/1,3,5-Tri-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy) benzene (TPh) system was prepared by cure treatment. The phthalonitrile on PEN-t-Ph were thermally crosslinked with TPh in the presence of diamino diphenyl sulfone through cure treatment up to 280-340 C, which led to the transformation from thermoplastic polymers to thermosetting polymers. This is because the phthalonitrile on the PEN-t-Ph can react with TPh by forming phthalocyanine ring. The glass transition temperatures of the PEN-t-Ph/TPh system increased from 152.4 C to 194.7 C, and the initial decomposition temperature (ranging from 475.3 C to 544.0 C) increased by 68 C after thermal curing. Therefore, their thermal properties can be greatly enhanced by crosslinking.

Thermosetting blends of 4-aminophenoxyphthalonitrile (APN)/epoxy resin (ER) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic rheological analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The self-promoted curing behaviors and processing properties of the APN/ER blends and prepolymers were studied by DSC and rheological analysis under dynamic and isothermal conditions. The APN/ER blends and prepolymers exhibited two-step polymerization reactions in the absence of any other curing additives. The APN/ER blends and prepolymers had large processing windows with low melt viscosity, and the size of the processing windows was dependent on the APN monomer concentration. The thermal behaviors of the APN/ER copolymers were studied by TGA. These cured copolymers exhibited decomposition temperatures over 367 o C in either flowing nitrogen or air, and high char yield at 800 o C of 68% under nitrogen atmosphere. Consequently, these studies revealed that the APN/ER system exhibits attractive self-promoted curing reaction, desirable processing feature, excellent thermal and thermal-oxidative stabilities, and high char yields. The APN/ER copolymer will be a good candidate as a matrix for high-performance polymeric materials.

This paper proposes an alternative perspective on service quality management (SQM) based on the ecosystem of complex and dynamic service environments. First, the ways in which systems thinking and core principles of Quality Management evolved are analysed in order to understand the past, present and the future. Then, by analysing the theories, models and applications of SQM systems and business ecosystems, the paper proposes a framework model for a service ecosystem. The proposed service ecosystem is based on value co-creation that can be utilised to manage service quality and to increase innovability. Through two case studies, the differences between the traditional approach to SQM and the application of ecosystem theory to SQM are compared and reflected. The case studies indicate that ecosystem theory can be used to manage service quality and to achieve success in value co-creation through new innovative practices.