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Graphical abstract Highlights • Novel phthalonitrile copoly-oligomers were synthesized by an improved method. • Oligomers exhibited good processability for prepreg and hot-press manufacture. • Glass transition temperatures of cured polymers were higher than 450 °C. • Bending strength reached 942 MPa, capable as structural composite matrices. Abstract A novel series of phthalonitrile terminated fluorene based copoly-oligomers (BPNs) were designed and synthesized by an improved method and could be cured in the presence of bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone. The structure of oligomers was characterized, while their curing behavior was systematically studied. The oligomers exhibited good solubility, which facilitated the preparation of prepregs. Later quartz fiber reinforced composites were prepared by hot-pressing process, and their thermal and mechanical properties were characterized. The glass transition temperatures of the composites were higher than 450 °C, and the bending strength reached 942 MPa. The combination of excellent thermal and mechanical performance indicated BPNs could be potentially applied in high performance composites or as universal modifiers for heat resistant resins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Low melting dual-functional phthalonitrile monomers were synthesized. • Prepolymers exhibited processability capable for RTM manufacture. • Glass transition temperatures of cured polymers were higher than 470 °C. • Impact strength reached 13.63 kJ m−2, capable as structural composite matrices. Abstract Low melting phthalonitrile monomers containing allyl and/or methoxyl groups were designed, synthesized and characterized. In order to evaluate their potential application in phthalonitrile resins, these monomers were blended with 1,3-bis(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)benzene and 4-(4-aminophenoxy)phthalonitrile, then cured into polymers. Curing mechanisms of different prepolymers were proposed and compared, and processability, thermal and mechanical properties were characterized. The introduction of methoxyl units was found to postpone the curing, and thermal properties were slightly compromised. On the contrary, the usage of allyl was beneficial to both processability and thermal properties. More importantly, the impact strength for allyl-containing polymers could be as high as 13.63 kJ m−2, indicating such resin could be applied as high temperature structural composite matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]