Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Organosoluble Methyl Substituted Poly(aryl Ether Ketone)s Containing Sulfone Linkage

Abstract

Several new methyl substituted poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing sulfone linkage with inherent viscosities of 0.62–0.84 dL/g have been prepared from 4,4′-bis(2-methylphenoxy)diphenylsulfone and 4,4′-bis(3-methylphenoxy)diphenylsulfone with terephthaloyl chloride and isophthaloyl chloride by electrophilic Friedel-Crafts acylation in the presence of DMF with anhydrous AlCl3 as a catalyst in 1,2-dichloroethane, respectively. These polymers having weight-average molecular weight in the range of 71,000–49,000 are all amorphous and show high glass transition temperatures ranging from 167 °C to 191 °C, excellent thermal stability at temperatures over 400 °C in air or nitrogen, high char yields of 51–58% in nitrogen and good solubility in CHCl3 and polar solvents such as DMF, DMSO and NMP at room temperature.