Copper salt–assisted polymerization of bispropargyl ether–bismaleimide blend

Bispropargyl ether (BPE) of bisphenol-A was prepared. It was blended with 4,4’-bismaleimido diphenyl methane (BMI, 0.5:0.5 mol). The copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O) was blended (1% w/w) separately with pure BPE and BPE-BMI blend and the materials were thermally cured. The structural characterization of the materials was done using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer. The curing behaviour of the materials was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The presence of copper salt in BPE shifted the curing temperature to lower temperature region. The presence of copper salt in BPE-BMI blend also decreased the curing onset temperature by approximately 15°C. The thermal property of the polymers was investigated using thermogravimetry. The incorporation of copper salt in BPE-BMI blend led to polymer with increased thermal stability