A new
polycyanurate network exhibiting extremely low moisture uptake
has been produced via the treatment of perfluorocyclobutane-containing
Bisphenol T with cyanogen bromide and subsequent thermal cyclotrimerization.
The water uptake, at 0.56 ± 0.10% after immersion in water at
85 °C for 96 h, represents some of the most promising moisture
resistance observed to date in polycyanurate networks. This excellent
performance derives from a near optimal value of the glass transition
at 190 °C at full cure. Superior dielectric loss characteristics
compared to commercial polycyanurate networks based on Bisphenol E
were also observed. Polycyanurate networks derived from this new monomer
appear particularly well-suited for applications such as radomes and
spacecrafts where polycyanurates are already widely recognized as
providing outstanding properties.