Preparation and characterization of poly(aryl ether ketone)s with pyridyl groups on the side chains

Abstract

A new bisphenol monomer with pyridyl groups (compound 3) was synthesized via a two-step reaction. A series of functional poly(aryl ether ketone)s with pyridyl groups on the side chains (Py-PAEKs) were prepared by a nucleophilic substitution polycondensation of new bisphenol monomer, 2, 2-di(4-hydroxy phenyl)propane and easily available bisfluoro monomer at various molar ratios. Structures of compound 3 and Py-PAEKs were determined by means of ¹H-NMR, IR spectra and elemental analysis. Thermal analysis of Py-PAEKs revealed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) and the 5% weight loss temperature (T_5%) of these copolymers varied in the range of 147–176 °C and 432–330 °C, respectively, which showed strong chain rigidity and excellent thermal stability. Moreover, Py-PAEKs were soluble in some organic solvents under heating, which made them potentially used for self-assembly of rigid polymers.