Furan/imide Diels–Alder polymers as dielectric materials

Herein, the synthesis and characterization of a series of Diels–Alder (DA) polymers made with various bis-furans and 1,3-bis(maleimide)propane are described. Due to the fact that these syntheses produce no byproducts inherent to their mechanism, as well as the relative ease at which highly functionalized monomers can be made, these polymers are identified as candidates for dielectric materials with high dielectric constants. The dielectric spectra of these polymers are reported, with an emphasis placed on describing observed structure–property trends. Dielectric constants for these materials range from 4.31 to 6.75 at room temperature, with dielectric losses in the 1–2% regime. These polymers are thermally stable to ∼130°C, where the retro DA reaction was confirmed with multiple analytical methods, including thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry thermal desorption spectroscopy. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40179.