Chain relaxation of carborane segments with tailored chain length at high temperatures

Abstract

High-performance thermoset polymers have good thermal stability due to their highly crosslinked network, while also represent topological constraints that restrict cooperative segmental motion, making it difficult to relax stresses even at high temperatures. Failure of most thermoset polymers at high temperatures is due to ineffective stress relaxation, which limits the use of thermoset polymers in harsh environments. Herein, we employed a cyclosiloxane hybrid polymer (CHP) containing o-carborane segments with tailored carbon chain length to relieve internal stress. The introduction of o-carborane and lengthening of carbon chain both increased the CHP fractional free volume, and reduced the activation energy required in the later stages of the curing process. The carbon chain changed the conformation to achieve chain relaxation by stretching and rotating the carbon–carbon bonds at high temperatures, which avoided cracking and increased the failure temperature of the CHP. Furthermore, the adhesion strength of the o-carborane modified CHP reached a maximum of 2.15 MPa, surpassing 1.23 MPa of the neat CHP. The o-carborane modified CHP with the longest carbon chain exhibited good stability while supporting 1 kg load for 5 min when subjected to ablation, whereas the neat CHP failed after only 47 s. The o-carborane-modified CHP exhibited enhanced high-temperature properties through chain relaxation to inhibit cracking and in situ generation of boron oxide at high temperatures to protect the resin matrix.