Study on the synthesis and properties of condensed polynuclear aromatics resin using tar pitch as monomer and divinybenzene as cross-linking agent

A condensed polynuclear aromatic (COPNA) resin was synthesized using coal tar pitch as monomer and divinylbenzene (DVB) as cross-linking agent in catalysis of p-toluene sulfonic acid (PTS). The reaction mechanism was studied using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NUR) spectroscopy technologies. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to study curing reaction and thermo-stability of COPNA resin. The results show that coal tar pitch and DVB can be used to synthesize COPNA resin, the reaction mechanism of which is a positive ion-typed condensation polymerization catalyzed by acid. The curing reaction of B stage COPNA resin can be easily controlled and apparent activation energy is 17.06 kJ/mol. Moreover, C stage COPNA resin possesses good thermo-stability, and its thermal decomposition temperature is up to 450°C in nitrogen.