Capped poly(arylene ether) composition and process

1. A curable composition, comprising:

about 1 to about 23 weight percent of a methacrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) prepared by the reaction of an uncapped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) with methacrylic anhydride; wherein the reaction of an uncapped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) with methacrylic anhydride is conducted in a solvent to form a solution of the methacrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether); wherein the solution of the methacrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) is washed with an aqueous solution; and wherein the methacrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) is isolated by a procedure comprising precipitation with isopropanol;

about 1 to about 23 weight percent of an acryloyl monomer comprising at least two acryloyl moieties;

about 1 to about 23 weight percent of an alkenyl aromatic monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, α-methylstyrene, 2-methylstyrene, 3-methylstyrene, 4-methylstyrene, 2-t-butylstyrene, 3-t-butylstyrene, 4-t-butylstyrene, 1,3-divinylbenzene, 1,4-divinylbenzene, 1,3-diisopropenylbenzene, 1,4-diisopropenylbenzene, styrenes having from 1 to 5 halogen substituents on the aromatic ring, and combinations thereof; and

about 75 to about 95 weight percent of fused silica;

wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the composition; and

wherein the composition after curing absorbs less than 0.2 weight percent water after 7 days at 85° C. and 85 percent relative humidity; and

wherein the composition comprises less than 50 parts per million by weight of the anhydride capping agent, based on the weight of the capped poly(arylene ether).

2. A cured composition comprising the reaction products obtained on curing the curable composition of claim 1 .

3. An article comprising the cured composition of claim 2 .