Method of forming high-temperature resistant polymers

Claim 1

A method of forming high-temperature resistant polymers said method comprising the steps of (a) curing a polymerisable composition (A) containing at least one compound of the formula VI: ##STR24## wherein is a single or multiple aromatic ring structure, each R a , which may be the same or different, is H or alkenyl, which may optionally be substituted; each R b , which may be the same or different, is alkenyl, which may optionally be substituted, each R c , which may be the same or different, is a polymerisable or non-polymerisable group which does not interfere with the polymerisation of the composition; n=1-3; m=0-3; ≦ (m+n)≦6; 0≦s≦r-(m+n) where r is the total number of substitutable positions on the ring structure: provided that (I) when the polymerisable composition A comprises a compound of formula VI and a matrix monomer, said matrix monomer being curable or polymerisable under the curing conditions of step (a), then (i) at least two of the moieties R a and/or R b must have unsaturation at the alpha or beta carbon atom or (ii) at least one of the moieties R a , R b or R c is polymerisable or curable under the curing conditions of step (a) and at least one other of R a or R b has unsaturation at the alpha or beta carbon atoms; and (II) when the polymerisable composition A comprises a mixture of compounds of formula VI then (i) at least one of said compounds has at least one moiety R a , R b or R c which is polymerisable or curable under the curing conditions of step (a) and at least one moiety R a or R b which has unsaturation at the alpha or beta carbon atom and (ii) the other compound has the same requirements as I (i) or II (i) above; and (III) when the polymerisable composition A contains as the only polymerisable component, a compound of formula VI, then said compound has at least one moiety R a , R b and/or R c which is polymerisable or curable under the curing conditions of step (a) and at least one moiety R a and R b which has unsaturation at the alpha or beta carbon atom; and provided that the curing conditions for step (a) are not such as would cause the substantial polymerisation of the moieties R a and R b having alpha or beta unsaturation, and provided that when m═0 or when the required number of moieties R a and R b having alpha or beta unsaturation is greater than the number of R b moieties having said alpha or beta unsaturation, then at least one position ortho to each --OR a (R a not equal to H) or the para position thereto, or in the case of a fused ring structure at least one substitutable position on the fused ring, is unsubstituted; the alpha carbon atom being that carbon atom nearest the oxygen atom (in the case of R a ) or the ring (in the case of R b ); and (b) subsequently heating the cured composition in the presence of acid to form a high temperature resistant crosslinked resin.

Claim 2

A method of forming high-temperature resistant polymers said method comprising the steps of (a) curing a polymerisable composition (A) containing at least one compound of the formula VI: ##STR24## wherein is a single or multiple aromatic ring structure, each R a , which may be the same or different, is H or alkenyl, which may optionally be substituted; each R b , which may be the same or different, is alkenyl, which may optionally be substituted, each R c , which may be the same or different, is a polymerisable or non-polymerisable group which does not interfere with the polymerisation of the composition; n=1-3; m=0-3; ≦ (m+n)≦6; 0≦s≦r-(m+n) where r is the total number of substitutable positions on the ring structure: provided that (I) when the polymerisable composition A comprises a compound of formula VI and a matrix monomer, said matrix monomer being curable or polymerisable under the curing conditions of step (a), then (i) at least two of the moieties R a and/or R b must have unsaturation at the alpha or beta carbon atom or (ii) at least one of the moieties R a , R b or R c is polymerisable or curable under the curing conditions of step (a) and at least one other of R a or R b has unsaturation at the alpha or beta carbon atoms; and (II) when the polymerisable composition A comprises a mixture of compounds of formula VI then (i) at least one of said compounds has at least one moiety R a , R b or R c which is polymerisable or curable under the curing conditions of step (a) and at least one moiety R a or R b which has unsaturation at the alpha or beta carbon atom and (ii) the other compound has the same requirements as I (i) or II (i) above; and (III) when the polymerisable composition A contains as the only polymerisable component, a compound of formula VI, then said compound has at least one moiety R a , R b and/or R c which is polymerisable or curable under the curing conditions of step (a) and at least one moiety R a and R b which has unsaturation at the alpha or beta carbon atom; and provided that the curing conditions for step (a) are not such as would cause the substantial polymerisation of the moieties R a and R b having alpha or beta unsaturation, and provided that when m═0 or when the required number of moieties R a and R b having alpha or beta unsaturation is greater than the number of R b moieties having said alpha or beta unsaturation, then at least one position ortho to each --OR a (R a not equal to H) or the para position thereto, or in the case of a fused ring structure at least one substitutable position on the fused ring, is unsubstituted; the alpha carbon atom being that carbon atom nearest the oxygen atom (in the case of R a ) or the ring (in the case of R b ); and (b) subsequently heating the cured composition in the presence of acid to form a high temperature resistant crosslinked resin.