Sodium salts of sulfonated poly(phenylene ethers) as polysoaps

Polysoaps are of interest because, unlike most polyelectrolytes, their aqueous solutions become more viscous and often form gels upon the addition of salt. A new kind of polysoap was made by sulfonating phenylene oxide polymers that have a pendant alkyl group containing at least 14 carbon atoms on every phenylene unit. Copolymers made from a mixture of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2-methyl-6-tetradecylphenol have the same composition as the monomer mixture. Tetradecyl substituents in the copolymer act as internal plasticizing agents and, by varying the number of substituents, a gradation in physical properties of the unsulfonated copolymer from rigid solid to heavy oil is possible.