Abstract: Polymerization or cure of di-phthalonitrile monomers or prepolymers by a curing agent selected from (a) an acid and an amine, (b) a salt of an acid and an amine, and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b). In a preferred embodiment, the curing agents are amine salts which are reaction products of an aromatic amine and an aromatic sulfonic acid. The use of the novel curing agents enhances curing rates and results in polymers which have high Tg.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for applying 3 or 4 point bending to a specimen of a material. The apparatus comprises bending members to contact the specimen, a drive system coupled to at least one of the bending members to cause relative vertical movement between the bending members to deflect the specimen, and a microprocessor interfaced with the drive system to control the operation of the drive system in accordance with a computer programm. The method is characterized by controlled monitoring of the actual experimental conditions applied to the specimen and varying of the operation of the drive system when the actual experimental conditions diverge from the required experimental conditions.