Synthesis and properties of polyarylene ether nitrile copolymers

Polyether nitrile and its copolymers were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile with resorcinol and with varying mole proportions of resorcinol and hydroquinone. The polymers were characterized by different physico-chemical techniques. Thermogravimetric studies showed that all the polymers were stable up to 400degreesC with a char yield of above 48% at 900degreesC in N-2 atmosphere. The glass transition temperature was found to increase with increase in concentration of hydroquinone units in the polymer; however no trend was observed in their crystalline melt temperatures. Copolymer composition was determined using FT-IR technique. Crystallinity of the polymers was also studied using wide angle X-ray diffraction.