Cyanate Ester ResinsAdapted from Cyanate Ester Resins , First Edition.

Abstract Cyanate ester resins are an important class of thermosetting polymers with high glass‐transition temperature, low outgassing, and low dielectric constant and loss. These resins are used in a variety of applications such as printed circuit boards, radomes, structural composites for space applications, and adhesives. This review describes how cyanate ester monomers are synthesized, how these monomers and oligomers are polymerized into cross‐linked polymer networks, and how the chemical structures of commercial cyanate esters influence the physical and thermomechanical properties of the polymer. Processing issues such as curing in the presence of moisture and blending with epoxies and bismaleimides are also discussed. Data from various analytical techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis are presented to elucidate the behavior of specific cyanate ester systems.