Bismaleimide-thiol-epoxy polymer compositions, and methods of making and using the same

A method of making a bismaleimide-thiol-epoxy resin composition, said method comprising:

• (i) providing a starting bismaleimide, a starting multifunctional amine, a starting multifunctional thiol, an acid catalyst, and optionally a solvent to form a starting reaction mixture;
• (ii) reacting said starting bismaleimide, said starting multifunctional amine, and said starting multifunctional thiol to form at least one thiol-endcapped bismaleimide monomer or oligomer;
• (iii) providing at least one thiol-containing species having a thiol functionality of at least 2, wherein said at least one thiol-containing species is distinct from thiol groups contained in said at least one thiol-endcapped bismaleimide monomer or oligomer, and wherein said at least one thiol-containing species is chemically different than an unreacted amount of said multifunctional thiol from step (ii);
• (iv) providing at least one epoxy species having an epoxide functionality of at least 2;
• (v) providing at least one curing catalyst;
• (vi) optionally, providing at least one additive;
• and
• (vii) combining said at least one thiol-endcapped bismaleimide monomer or oligomer, said at least one thiol-containing species, said at least one epoxy species, said at least one curing catalyst, and, if step (vi) is conducted, said at least one additive, to form a bismaleimide-thiol-epoxy resin composition.

A method of thermoprocessing a bismaleimide-thiol-epoxy resin composition, said method comprising:

• (i) providing a bismaleimide-thiol-epoxy resin composition comprising:
• at least one thiol-endcapped bismaleimide monomer or oligomer;
• at least one thiol-containing species having a thiol functionality of at least 2, wherein said at least one thiol-containing species is distinct from thiol groups contained in said at least one thiol-endcapped bismaleimide monomer or oligomer, and wherein said at least one thiol-containing species is chemically different than an unreacted amount of said multifunctional thiol;
• at least one epoxy species having an epoxide functionality of at least 2;
• at least one curing catalyst;
• and
• optionally, at least one additive;
• (ii) thermoforming, but not completely curing, said bismaleimide-thiol-epoxy resin composition, to generate a thermoformed bismaleimide-thiol-epoxy resin;
• and
• (iii) separately from step (ii), completely curing said thermoformed bismaleimide-thiol-epoxy resin.