6 - Poly(aryl ether ketone)s

Abstract

Poly(aryl ether ketone)s have aromatic groups, and both the ether group and the keto group are in the backbone. The chapter illustrates the basic repeating structures of this class of substances with the help of a figure. Poly(aryl ether ketone) belongs to the class of engineering polymers. In this polymer, each ether and keto group is separated by 1, 4-phenylene units. This chapter describes the polymerization and fabrication, properties, special additives, and applications of poly(ether ketone)s (PEK) and poly(ether ether ketone)s (PEEK). The electrophilic route for the production of aromatic polyether ketones involves the use of Friedel-Crafts catalysts. AlCl3 is used as a catalyst for the polymerization of p-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, or p-phenoxybenzoyl chloride or terephthaloyl chloride and 1, 4-diphenoxybenzene to give a PEK. Poly (aryl ether ketone)s show outstanding chemical resistance and thermal properties. They are virtually insoluble in all common solvents at room temperature. These properties make poly (aryl ether ketone)s attractive materials for porous membrane preparation.