SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF POLY(ARYLENE ETHER IMINE)S

Poly(arylene ether)s containing imine units were prepared by the aromatic nucleophilic displacement reaction of potassium salt of bisphenols with bis(fluorophenyl) compound activated by imine in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at elevated temperature. Polymers having inherent viscosities of 0.3-0.6 dl g-1 were obtained after polymerization for 4-7 h. The polymers had glass transition temperatures from 141 to 198-degrees-C and decomposition temperatures (5% weight loss under air atmosphere) from 445 to 544-degrees-C depending on the bisphenols used. Isothermal TGA measurements (400-degrees-C under air or nitrogen atmosphere) revealed that the 4,4'-biphenol-based poly(arylene ether imine) belonged to the superior class of heat resistant polymers. The cast films of these polymers exhibited tensile strength, moduli, and elongations at 23-degrees-C of 70-100 MPa, 2.5-3.6GPa, and 6-17%, respectively.