Rigid rod polyamides based on 2,2′,6,6′‐tetrasubstituted biphenyls: Synthesis, characterization, and structures

Abstract

AbstractPolyamides based on 4,4′‐diamino‐2,2′,6,6′‐tetrasubstituted biphenyls and phenylterephthalic acid have been synthesized, and the structures and properties of this series of polymer have been studied. It is shown that the polymers have an amorphous structure although some degree of short‐range order is present. This class of polymer, while consisting of comparatively stiff rodlike molecules, demonstrates high solubility and low glass transition temperatures. The behavior is due to the combination of the noncoplanar conformation of the twisted biphenyl and the fact that they have bulky side groups in the 2,2′‐ and 6,6′‐positions that weaken the interchain interactions (like hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces) and frustrate parallel packing of the polymer chains. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.