Abstract
The reaction of the mesogenic epoxy monomer, p-bis(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-α-methylstilbene, with bis(hydroxyphenyl)-iso-propylidene and bis(hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoro-iso-propylidene affords new semifluorinated poly(hydroxy aryl ether) thermoplastics with controlled properties dependent upon fluorine incorporation. Step-growth polymerization in a DMAc solution (33 wt%) gave linear polymers with molecular weights ranging from 29 000–60 000 Mw and polydispersities (Mw/Mn ) from 1.7–2.1 (gel permeation chromatography). The polymers can be solution or melt processed, exhibit T g’s ranging from 78 to 105 °C (dynamic scanning calorimetry) and maintain thermal stability above 390 °C (thermogravimetric analysis). The polymerization, characterization, and potential mesophase formation as a function of polymer dimensions and semifluorination is discussed.
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