Synthesis and characterization of polycarbonates based on bisphenol S by melt transesterification

Abstract

Several sulfone-containing polycarbonates, having inherent viscosity 0.25–0.30 dL g−1 in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), were prepared by melt polycondensation of diphenyl carbonate (DPC) with various aromatic and aliphatic diols, in the presence of zinc acetate as transesterification catalyst. The polycarbonates were examined with IR spectra, inherent viscosity, solubility, tensile strength, contact angle, DSC and TGA. Almost all polymers were soluble in DMF, pyridine, N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP), THF, phenol and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), partially soluble in nitrobenzene, but insoluble in acetone. Polycarbonate with introduced ether linkages leads to enhanced flexibility and elongation strength. The contact angle of the polycarbonate based on bisphenol S was found in the range 42–80°, smaller than that of polycarbonates based on bisphenol AF and bisphenol A. The wettability of polycarbonate films based on bisphenol S remarkably increased with increasing oxyethylene unit in polymer chain. The smaller values of Td of PC-3-PC-7 than of PC-1 is attributed to the flexible ether linkage. The thermal stability of a brominated aromatic polycarbonate (PC-2) is less than that of the unbrominated one (PC-1). The brominated aromatic polycarbonate (PC-2) has good flame retardency, as indicated by the large limiting oxygen index 56. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2453–2460, 1997