Control of molecular weight distribution in polycondensation polymers 2. Poly(ether ketone) synthesis

Abstract

Synthesis of aromatic poly(ether ketone) ( 3) with a narrow molecular weight distribution ( M w/ M n) was investigated via polycondensation. M ns of 3 could be controlled varying the feed ratio of monomer ( 1) and initiator ( 2) maintaining relatively narrow M w/ M ns (<1.3). The kinetics of polycondensation obeyed a first-order relationship between polycondensation time and –(1/[ 2] 0) ln([ 1]/[ 1] 0), and the rate of polycondensation was estimated as 2.57 mol −1 L h −1. MALDI-TOF mass analysis of 3 indicated that polycondensation should proceed via chain growth manner to give 3 having an initiator unit in each chain end.