Poly (arylene ether) composition and method

A curable composition, comprising:

• a functionalized poly(arylene ether) comprising a (meth)acrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) resin, a(meth)acrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether-co-2,3,6-trimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) resin, or a mixture thereof;
• an acryloyl monomer comprising at least two acryloyl moieties;
• a particulate filler;
• about 0.2 to about 5 parts by weight of a curing initiator per 100 parts by weight total of the functionalized poly(arylene ether) and the acryloyl monomer;
• wherein the curing initiator is selected from benzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, lauryl peroxide, cyclohexanone peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, t-butyl benzene hydroperoxide, t-butyl peroctoate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)-hex-3-yne, di-t-butylperoxide, t-butylcumyl peroxide, α,α′-bis(t-butylperoxy-m-isopropyl)benzene, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexane, di(t-butylperoxy) isophthalate, t-butylperoxy benzoate, 2,2-bis(t-butylperoxy)butane, 2,2-bis(t-butylperoxy)octane, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(benzoylperoxy)hexane, di(trimethylsilyl)peroxide, trimethylsilylphenyltriphenylsilyl peroxide, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• about 0.005 to about 1 part by weight of a curing inhibitor per 100 parts by weight total of the functionalized poly(arylene ether) and the acryloyl monomer;
• wherein the curing inhibitor is selected from diazoaminobenzene, phenylacetylene, sym-trinitrobenzene, p-benzoquinone, acetaldehyde, aniline condensates, N,N′-dibutyl-o-phenylenediamine, N-butyl-p-aminophenol, 2,4,6-triphenylphenoxyl, pyrogallol, catechol, hydroquinone, monoalkylhydroquinones, p-methoxyphenol, t-butylhydroquinone, C1–C6-alkyl-substituted catechols, 4-t-butylcatechol, dialkylhydroquinone, 2,4,6-dichloronitrophenol, halogen-ortho-nitrophenols, alkoxyhydroquinones, mono- and di- and polysulfides of phenols and catechols, thiols, oximes and hydrazones of quinone, phenothiazine, dialkylhydroxylamines, and mixtures thereof;
• wherein the weight ratio of the curing initiator to the curing inhibitor is about 1.2:1 to about 50:1.

A curable composition, comprising:

• about 5 to about 90 parts by weight of a methacrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether);
• about 10 to about 95 parts by weight of an ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate;
• about 200 to about 2000 parts by weight of fused silica;
• about 0.2 to about 5 parts by weight of dicumyl peroxide;
• and
• about 0.005 to about 1 part by weight of 4-t-butylcatechol;
• wherein all parts by weight are based on 100 parts by weight total of the methacrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl- 1,4-phenylene ether) and the ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate;
• and
• wherein the weight ratio of the curing initiator to the curing inhibitor is about 2:1 to about 20:1.

A method of forming a curable composition, comprising:

• blending
• a functionalized poly(arylene ether);
• wherein the functionalized poly(arylene ether) resin is a capped poly(arylene ether) resin having the formula
• Q(J-K)y
• wherein Q is the residuum of a monohydric, dihydric, or polyhydric phenol;
• y is 1 to 100;
• J has the formula
• wherein R1 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary C1–C12 alkyl, C2–C12 alkenyl, C2–C12 alkynyl, C1–C12 aminoalkyl, C1–C12 hydroxyalkyl, phenyl, C1–C12 haloalkyl, C1–C12 hydrocarbyloxy, and C2–C12 halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms;
• R2 and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, primary or secondary C1–C12 alkyl, C2–C12 alkenyl, C2–C12 alkynyl, C1–C12 aminoalkyl, C1–C12 hydroxyalkyl, phenyl, C1–C12 haloalkyl, C1–C12 hydrocarbyloxy, and C2–C12 halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms;
• m is 1 to about 200;
• and K is a capping group selected from the group consisting of
• wherein R5 is C1–C12 hydrocarbyl optionally substituted with one or two carboxylic acid groups, R6–R8 are each independently hydrogen, C1–C18 hydrocarbyl optionally substituted with one or two carboxylic acid groups, C2–C18 hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl, nitrile, formyl, carboxylic acid, imidate, and thiocarboxylic acid;
• R9–R13 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1–C12 alkyl, hydroxy, carboxylic acid, and amino;
• and wherein Y is a divalent group selected from the group consisting of
• wherein R14 and R15 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1–C12 alkyl;
• an olefinically unsaturated monomer;
• about 0.2 to about 5 parts by weight of a curing initiator per 100 parts by weight total of the functionalized poly(arylene ether) and the olefinically unsaturated monomer;
• and
• about 0.005 to about 1 part by weight of a curing inhibitor per 100 parts by weight total of the functionalized poly(arylene ether) and the olefinically unsaturated monomer;
• to form an intimate blend;
• wherein the weight ratio of the curing initiator to the curing inhibitor is about 1.2:1 to about 50:1.