Processing and cure schedules for cyanate ester resins

Abstract

Cyanate ester resins possess a range of physical and chemical properties which makes them amenable to a variety of processing methods [1, 2]. In terms of end use temperature, the cyanate esters lie somewhere between the epoxy resins and bismaleimides (BMIs), thus qualifying them for inclusion in the family of high temperature polymers. Their processing versatility, however, is generally in marked contrast to other common high temperature thermosetting resins such as BMIs or PMR polyimides [3]. This has led to increasingly widespread acceptance of cyanate ester resins and their fibre-reinforced composites in applications ranging from microelectronics to aerospace structures. Later chapters describe these applications in greater detail.