Methods for preparing phthalonitrile coating compositions

A method of preparing a phthalonitrile coating composition, the method comprising:

• (a) heating a phthalonitrile precursor composition comprising a bisphthalonitrile compound to a temperature and for a period of time to form a phthalonitrile prepolymer composition comprising a bisphthalonitrile prepolymer;
• (b) cooling the phthalonitrile prepolymer composition to ambient temperature and pulverizing the phthalonitrile prepolymer composition to form particles;
• (c) combining the particles with a liquid medium to form a phthalonitrile solution;
• (d) optionally, adding an additive to the phthalonitrile solution;
• and
• (e) mixing the phthalonitrile solution to form a phthalonitrile coating composition,
• further comprising after mixing the phthalonitrile solution, storing the mixed phthalonitrile solution for a second period of time at ambient temperature to form the phthalonitrile coating composition as a phthalonitrile paste.