Novel self-dyed wholly aromatic polyamide–hydrazides covalently bonded with azo groups in their main chains

Thermal characteristics of several novel self-dyed wholly aromatic polyamide–hydrazides covalently bonded with azo groups in their main chains and containing o-hydroxy group as a substituent group in the aryl ring of the aminohydrazide part of the polymers have been investigated in nitrogen and in air atmospheres using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analyses, infrared spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The effect of introducing different predetermined proportions of para- and meta-phenylene moieties into the backbone chain of the polymers on their thermal characteristics has been evaluated. Azopolymers having different molecular masses of all para-oriented phenylene type units were also thermally characterized. These polymers were prepared by a low temperature solution polycondensation reaction of either 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzhydrazide or 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzhydrazide with an equimolar amount of either 4,4′-azodibenzoyl chloride (4,4′ADBC), 3,3′-azodibenzoyl chloride (3,3′ADBC), or mixtures of various molar ratios of 4,4′ADBC and 3,3′ADBC in anhydrous N,N-dimethyl acetamide containing 3 % m v^?1 LiCl as a solvent at ?10 °C. All the polymers have the same structural formula except the mode of linking phenylene units in the polymer chain. The content of para- and meta-phenylene moieties was varied within these polymers so that the changes in the latter were 10 mol% from polymer to polymer, starting from an overall content of 0–100 mol%. The results reveal that these polymers are characterized by high thermal stability and could be cyclodehydrated into linear aromatic polymers with alternating 1,3,4-oxadiazole and benzoxazole structural units within the same polymer approximately in the region of 200–480 °C, either in nitrogen or in air atmospheres by losing water from the hydrazide and o-hydroxybenzamide groups, respectively. Along with the cyclodehydration, the polymer may lose molecular nitrogen from the azo groups. This is not a true degradation, but rather a thermo-chemical transformation reaction of the evaluated polymers into the corresponding poly(1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-benzoxazoles). The resulting poly(1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-benzoxazoles) start to decompose in the temperature range above 330–560 °C, either in nitrogen or in air atmospheres without mass loss at a lower temperature. The thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities of the polymers are affected by the nature and amount of arylene groups incorporated into their chains, being higher for polymers with greater content of para-oriented phenylene rings, which permits more interchain hydrogen bonds as a result of greater chain symmetry, packing efficiency, and rod-like structure. Increasing the content of para-oriented phenylene rings leads to a strong improvement in both the initial decomposition temperature as well as in the residual mass at a particular temperature. The stability of the polymers was found to be independent of their molecular masses. This confirms that high thermal stability is not a polymer property which would depends upon the length of its macromolecular chains, but rather upon its chemical structure in which all and every atomic group contributes by its own thermal stability to the macroscopic properties of the whole polymer.     

Synthesis and characterization of new polyhydrazides based on 2,5-bis(mercapto-acetichydrazide)-1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety

New interesting class of novel polyhydrazides containing 1,3,4-thiadiazole moieties in the main chain was synthesized. A solution polycondensation technique was used in the synthesis of these polymers. The new monomer namely: 2,5-bis(mercapto-acetichydrazide)-1,3,4-thiadiazole III was synthesized from the nucleophilic replacement of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,5-thiadiazole I with ethylchloroacetate, followed by hydrazinolysis. The model compound VII was synthesized from the monomer 2,5-bis(mercapto-acetichydrazide)-1,3,4-thiadiazole III with benzoyl chloride and characterized by ¹H- NMR, IR, and elemental analyses. The polyhydrazides were synthesized from the polymerization of monomer III with 4,4^′-biphenic, 3,3^′-azodibenzoyl, 4,4^′-azodibenzoyl dichlorides. These polymers were characterized by elemental and spectral analyses, viscometry and solubility. The thermal properties of these polymers were determined by thermal gravimetric analyses, and differential thermal analysis, and correlated with their structure. The crystallinity of some polymers was tested by X-ray analyses.     

Structure-property relationships for novel wholly aromatic polyamide-hydrazides containing various proportions of para-phenylene and meta-phenylene units: I. Synthesis and characterization

A series of novel wholly aromatic polyamide-hydrazides was synthesized by a low temperature solution polycondensation reaction of either 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzhydrazide or 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzhydrazide with an equimolar amount of either terephthaloyl chloride (TCl), isophthaloyl chloride (ICl), or mixtures of various molar ratios of TCl and ICl in anhydrous N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as a solvent. Polymer structures were identified by elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy. All the polymers have the same structural formula except the way of linking phenylene units inside the polymer chain. The content of para- and meta-phenylene moieties was varied within this series so that the changes in the latter were 10 mol % from polymer to polymer, starting from an overall content of 0-100 mol %. The prepared polymers were characterized for their properties in order to acquire clear understanding of the influence exerted by controlled structural variations in these polymers upon some of important properties, such as solubility, intrinsic viscosity, moisture regain, mechanical properties and thermal as well as thermo-oxidative stability. The polymers were readily soluble in several organic polar solvents such as DMAc, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulphoxide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and hexamethyl phosphoramide and could be cast into flexible films. Their solubilities were found to increase remarkably with introduction of meta-phenylene moieties into the polymer chains. Their intrinsic viscosities ranged from 0.73 to 4.83 dl g⁻¹ in DMAc at 30 °C and increased with the increase of para-phenylene units content. Mechanical properties of the films produced from these polymers are improved markedly by substitution of para-phenylene units for meta-phenylene units. Thermogravimetric studies revealed that the completely para-oriented type of polymer has better thermal and thermo-oxidative stability relative to that of the other polymers. Moreover, the results reveal that the prepared polymers have a great affinity to water sorption. The hydrophilic character increases as a function of meta-oriented phenylene rings incorporated into the polymer chains.     

Two reaction routes for the preparation of aromatic polyoxadiazoles and polytriazoles: Syntheses and properties

Two reaction routes for the preparation of aromatic poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles and poly-1,2,4-triazoles are studied and their influence on the physical properties, i.e., inherent viscosity, glass transition, degradation temperature, and film integrity of the final products are discussed. Aromatic poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles are prepared by means of a polycondensation reaction of terephthaloyl chloride and isophthalic dihydrazide yielding a precursor polymer, poly(p, m-phenylene) hydrazide, which is converted into the corresponding poly-1,3,4-oxadiazole by means of a cyclodehydration reaction. Poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles are also prepared by means of a polycondensation reaction between terephthalic and isophthalic acid and hydrazine yielding poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles with higher inherent viscosities. Flexible poly-1,3,4-oxadiazole films are obtained only if the inherent viscosities of the polymers used are higher than 2.7 dL/g. The thermal stability is found to increase with increasing content of p-phenylene groups in the polymer backbone. Aromatic poly-1,2,4-triazoles are prepared using polyhydrazides with alternating para- and meta-phenylene groups and poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles with a random incorporation of para- and meta-phenylene groups in the main chain as precursor polymers. The glass transition temperatures are found to increase with increasing content of p-phenylene groups in the main chain of these polymers. Cold crystallization is observed only for the alternating polymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of new unsaturated polyesters and copolyesters containing azo groups in the main chain

A new interesting class of linear unsaturated polyesters based on dibenzylidenecycloalkanones have been synthesized by interfacial polycondensation of 4,4^′-azodibenzoyl chloride or 3,3^′-azodibenzoyl chloride with: 2,5-bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclopentanone I, 2,6-bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexanone II, 2,6-divanillylidenecyclohexanone III, or 2,7-bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene)cycloheptanone IV at ambient temperature. The copolyesters are also synthesized from the monomers I, II, III or IV with the diacid chlorides. The resulting polyesters and their copolyesters were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and solubility. Additionally, inherent viscosity of the polyesters in the range 0.32-0.86 dL g⁻¹ and the inherent viscosity of the copolyesters in the range 0.28-0.65 dL g⁻¹ were determined. The UV-visible spectra of certain polymers were measured in m-cresol solution and showed a characteristic absorption band at 435-473 nm due to n-π^* transition. The thermal properties of the polymers were evaluated by thermo gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry measurements and correlated with their structural units. The crystallinity of some polyesters and copolyesters were tested. In addition, the electrical properties of all polyesters and copolyesters were measured.     

Synthesis and characterization of polybinaphthalene incorporating chiral (R) or (S)-1,1′-binaphthalene and oxadiazole units by Heck reaction

Chiral conjugated polymers P-1 and P-2 were synthesized by the polymerization of (R)-3,3′-diiodo-2,2′-bisbutoxy-1,1′-binaphthalene ((R)-M-1) and (S)-3,3′-diiodo-2,2′-bisbutoxy-1,1′-binaphthalene ((S)-M-1) with 2,5-bis(4-vinylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (M-2) under Pd-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction, respectively. Both monomers and polymers were analysed by NMR, MS, FT-IR, UV, DSC-TG, fluorescent spectroscopy, GPC and CD spectra. The chiral conjugated polymers exhibit strong Cotton effect in their circular dichroism (CD) spectra indicating a high rigidity of polymer backbone. CD spectra of polymers P-1 and P-2 are almost identical and have opposite signs for their position. These polymers have strong blue fluorescence.     

Poly(amideimide)s containing pendant pentadecyl chains: Synthesis and characterization

A new aromatic diacylhydrazide monomer viz., 4-[4′-(hydrazinocarbonyl)phenoxy]-2- pentadecylbenzohydrazide was synthesized starting from cardanol, which in turn is obtainable from cashew nut shell liquid - a renewable resource material. A series of new poly(amideimide)s containing flexibilizing ether linkages and pendant pentadecyl chains was synthesized from 4-[4′-(hydrazinocarbonyl)phenoxy]-2-pentadecylbenzohydrazide and commercially available aromatic dianhydrides, viz., benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, benzophenone-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride and 4,4′-(hexafluoro isopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride by a two-step solution polycondensation in N,N-dimethylacetamide via the poly(hydrazide acid) intermediate. Inherent viscosities of poly(amideimide)s were in the range 0.60-0.64 dL/g in N,N-dimethylacetamide at 30 ± 0.1 °C. Poly(amideimide)s could be solution cast into tough, transparent and flexible films from their N,N-dimethylacetamide solutions. The solubility of poly(amideimide)s was significantly improved by incorporation of pendant pentadecyl chains and were found to be soluble in N,N-dimethylacetamide, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, pyridine and m-cresol at room temperature or upon heating. Wide angle X-ray diffraction patterns of poly(amideimide)s revealed a broad halo at around 2θ = ∼19° suggesting that polymers were amorphous in nature. In the small-angle region, diffuse to sharp reflections of a typically layered structure resulting from the packing of pentadecyl side chains were observed. The temperature at 10% weight loss (T₁₀), determined by TGA in nitrogen atmosphere, of poly(amideimide)s was in the range of 388-410 °C indicating their good thermal stability. Glass transition temperatures of poly(amideimide)s were in the range 162-198 °C. It was observed that the plasticization effect of attached pentadecyl side chains induced the depression of T_g.     

Thermal degradation behaviour of novel wholly para-oriented aromatic polyamide-hydrazides containing sulfone-ether linkages

Thermal stability and degradation behaviour of a series of novel wholly para-oriented aromatic polyamide-hydrazides containing flexibilising sulfone-ether linkages in their main chains have been investigated in nitrogen and in air using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and elemental analysis. All of these polymers have similar structural formula except for the presence of sulfone, ether, or sulfone-ether linking groups between appropriate aromatic nuclei in their main chains. The influence of incorporation of these linkages on the thermal stability and degradation behaviour of these polymers has also been studied. The polymers were prepared by a low temperature solution polycondensation reaction of 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzhydrazide (4A3HBH) and an equimolar amount of either 4,4′-sulfonyl dibenzoyl chloride (SDBC), 4,4′-[sulfonyl bis (1,4-phenylene)dioxy] dibenzoyl chloride (SODBC), 4,4′-[sulfonyl bis (2,6-dimethyl- 1,4-phenylene)dioxy] dibenzoyl chloride (4MeSODBC), or 4,4′-(1,4-phenylenedioxy)dibenzoyl chloride (ODBC) in anhydrous N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) as a solvent at −10 °C. A related polyamide-hydrazide without the flexibilising linkages is also investigated for comparison. It was synthesized from 4A3HBH and terephthaloyl chloride (TCl) by the same synthetic route. The results clearly reveal that these polymers are characterized by high thermal stability. Their weight loss occurred in three distinctive steps. The first was small and was assigned to the evaporation of absorbed moisture. The second was appreciable and was attributed to the cyclodehydration reaction of the o-hydroxy polyamide-hydrazides into the corresponding poly (1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-benzoxazoles) by losing water. This is not a true degradation, but rather a thermo-chemical transformation reaction. The third was relatively severe and sharp, particularly in air, and corresponded to the decomposition of the resulting poly(1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-benzoxazoles). There is a slight shift of the decomposition temperature of these polymers to a lower temperature as the sulfone-ether linkages were introduced into the polymer chains. The decomposition seems to start by breaking the sulfonyl groups as confirmed from DSC measurements. The results also indicate that the incorporation of the flexibilising linkages into the polymer main chains did not seem to significantly influence the thermal stability of these polymers in comparison with that of the polymer free from these linkages.     

Synthesis, characterization and photocrosslinking properties of polyacrylamides having bromo substituted pendant cinnamoyl moieties

New 3- and 4-bromocinnamoyl aniline were synthesized condensing 4-aminoacetophenone and the respective bromobenzaldehydes in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The monomers, 4-(3′-bromocinnamoyl) phenyl acrylamide (4,3′-BCPA) and 4-(4′-bromocinnamoyl) phenyl acrylamide (4,4′-BCPA) were prepared by reacting the respective chalcones and acryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine at 0-5 °C. Homopolymers of 4,3′-BCPA and 4,4′-BCPA was carried out in methyl ethyl ketone using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) under nitrogen atmosphere at 70 °C. The prepared polymers were characterized by UV, IR, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR techniques. The molecular weights (M_w and M_n) of the polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the polymers in nitrogen atmosphere reveals that they possess very good thermal stability required of a negative type photoresist. The glass transition temperature of poly(4,3′-BCPA) and poly (4,4′-BCPA) were found to be 55 and 64 °C respectively. The solubility of the polymers was tested in various polar and non-polar solvents. Photocrosslinking nature of the polymer samples was carried out in the presence and absence of various triplet photosensitizers in solution phase using chloroform solvent under medium frequency UV light. For using the polymers as negative photoresist materials the rate of photocrosslinking of the polymers was measured under the influence of different solvents, concentrations and position of the substituent.     

Poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether-imide)s and their polydimethylsiloxane-containing copolymers

Poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether-imide)s were prepared by thermal imidization of poly(amic-acid) intermediates resulting from the solution polycondensation reaction of a bis(ether-anhydride), namely 2,2′-bis-[(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]-1,4-phenylenediisopropylidene dianhydride, with different aromatic diamines containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring, such as 2,5-bis(p-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2,5-bis[p-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-5-(3,5-diaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole. Poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether-imide)-polydimethylsiloxane copolymers were prepared by polycondensation reaction of the same bis(ether-anhydride) with equimolar quantities of an aromatic diamine having 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring and a bis(aminopropyl)polydimethylsiloxane oligomer of controlled molecular weight. A solution imidization procedure was used to convert quantitatively the poly(amic-acid) intermediates to the corresponding polyimides. All the polymers were easily soluble in polar organic solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidone and N,N-dimethylacetamide. The polymers showed good thermal stability with decomposition temperature being above 400 °C. Solutions of some polymers in N-methylpyrrolidone exhibited blue fluorescence, having maximum emission wavelength in the range of 370-412 nm.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(thioether ether sulfone imide)s derived from isomeric bis(chlorophthalimide)s and bis(4-mercaptophenyl) sulfone

A series of isomeric bis(chlorophthalimide)s (BCPIs) were conveniently prepared from 3-chlorophthalic anhydride, 4-chlorophthalic anhydride, and mixtures thereof. Polymerization of BCPIs with bis(4-mercaptophenyl) sulfone (BMPS) proceeded smoothly in the presence of tributylamine, from which a class of isomeric poly(thioether ether sulfone imide)s (PTESIs) with inherent viscosities of 0.45-0.82 dL/g were obtained. The solubility, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of these polymers were characterized. Compared to the PTESIs derived from single BCPIs, i.e., 3,3′-, 3,4′-, or 4,4′-BCPIs, the PTESIs derived from mixed BCPIs showed better solubility and higher storage modulus. These PTESIs also demonstrated good thermal stability, giving only 5% weight loss at temperature of 490 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of these isomeric PTESIs were between 242 and 265 °C, and were increased with increasing of the ratio of 3-chlorophthalimide unit in the polymer backbone.     

A new class of aromatic polybenzoxazoles containing ortho-phenylenedioxy groups

A series of poly(o-hydroxy amide)s having both ether and ortho-catenated phenylene unit in the main chain were synthesized via the low-temperature solution polycondensation of 4,4^′-(1,2-phenylenedioxy)dibenzoyl chloride and 4,4^′-(4-tert-butyl-1,2-phenylenedioxy)dibenzoyl chloride with three bis(o-aminophenol)s including 4,4^′-diamino-3,3^′-dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,3^′-diamino-4,4^′-dihydroxybiphenyl, and 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane. The poly(o-hydroxy amide)s exhibited inherent viscosities in the range of 0.23-0.96 dl/g. Most of the poly(o-hydroxy amide)s were soluble in polar organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and could afford flexible and tough films by solution casting. Subsequent thermal cyclodehydration of the poly(o-hydroxy amide)s afforded polybenzoxazoles. However, the polybenzoxazoles were organic-insoluble except for those with the hexafluoroisopropylidene group. The polybenzoxazoles exhibited glass-transition temperatures (T_g) in the range of 200-232 °C by DSC and softening temperatures (T_s) of 250-256 °C by thermomechanical analysis. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated that most polybenzoxazoles were stable up to 500 °C in air or nitrogen. The 10% weight loss temperatures were recorded in the ranges of 546-606 °C in air and 574-631 °C in nitrogen.     

Polyquinoxalines. III

Six thermally stable polyquinoxalines have been prepared by the reactions of combinations of three tetraamines, 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl sulfone (II), and 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl ether (V), with two bisglyoxals, 4,4′-diglyoxalyldiphenyl sulfide dihydrate (III) and 4,4′-diglyoxalyldiphenyl sulfone dihydrate (IV). The polymers were prepared from polymerization in two stages. The first stage, a solution polymerization, produces an initially low or moderate molecular weight material, which is advanced to a high molecular weight (η_inh > 1.0) by heating at 375°C. under reduced pressure. All the polyquinoxalines have excellent thermal stability both in nitrogen and in air and improved solubility.     

Aromatic polyamides with pendent acetoxybenzamide groups and thin films made therefrom

New aromatic polyamides containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole or benzonitrile units in the main chain and 5-(4-acetoxybenzamido) groups in the side chain have been synthesized and their properties have been characterized and compared with those of related polyamides and polyoxadiazole-amides. These polymers show good thermal stability, with initial decomposition temperature being at about 300 °C and glass transition temperature in the range of 260-280 °C. They are easily soluble in certain solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), N,N^′-dimethylacetamide (DMA) and N,N^′-dimethylformamide (DMF) and can be cast from solutions into thin flexible films. The polymer films had tensile strengths in the range of 77-97 MPa, tensile moduli in the range of 2.3-2.6 GPa and elongation at break values ranging from 6% to 24%. One of the polymers containing the 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring exhibited blue fluorescence.     

Synthesis and characterization of crosslinkable polyimides

A series of copolyimides were prepared from benzophenone-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and various aromatic diamines which contain a fluorenyl group and/or alkyl substituents in ortho position to the amine groups. The effect of the chemical composition on the glass transition temperature (T_g), thermal stability as well as on the dielectric constant of these polymers was studied. High T_g polymers (T_g ranging from 260 °C to 370 °C), withstanding temperatures as high as 400 °C for 10 h and having a low dielectric constant (from 2.6 to 3.1) were successfully synthesized. All these polymers were able to crosslink under UV or thermal treatments.     

Soluble,redox‐active,and blue‐emitting poly(amide‐hydrazide)s and poly(amide‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s containing pyrenylamine units

Two new aromatic poly(amide‐hydrazide)s (PAHs)‐bearing electroactive pyrenylamine units in the backbone were prepared from the phosphorylation polycondensation reactions of N,N‐di(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐1‐aminopyrene ( 1 ) with p‐aminobenzoyl hydrazide (p‐ABH) and m‐aminobenzoyl hydrazide (m‐ABH), respectively. The PAHs could be further cyclodehydrated into the corresponding poly(amide‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s in the range of 300–400 °C in the solid film state. All the hydrazide and oxadiazole polymers were soluble in many polar organic solvents and could afford flexible and strong films via solution casting. The poly(amide‐1,3,4‐oxdiazole)s had high glass‐transition temperatures (294–309 °C) and high thermal stability (10% weight‐loss temperature in excess of 520 °C). The dilute solutions of all the hydrazide and oxadiazole polymers showed strong fluorescence with emission maxima around 457–459 nm in the blue region. Copolymers obtained from the polycondensation of equimolar mixture of diacid 1 and 4,4′‐oxydibenzoic acid with p‐ABH or m‐ABH exhibited a significantly increased fluorescence quantum efficiency in comparison with the homopolymers. Cyclic voltammetry results indicated that all the hydrazide and oxadiazole polymers exhibited an ambipolar (n‐ and p‐doping processes) and electrochromic behavior. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.     

Synthesis and optical properties of a poly(2′,5′-dioctyloxy-4,4′,4″- terphenylenevinylene) with high content of (Z) vinylene units

Poly(2′,5′-dioctyloxy-4,4′,4″-terphenylenevinylene) with (E) configuration of the vinylene double bonds was prepared by Suzuki-Miyaura polymerization of (E)-4,4′-dibromostilbene and 2,5-dioctyloxy-1,4-benzenediboronic acid. Attempts to extend this simple procedure to the synthesis of the polymer with (Z) configuration, starting from (Z)-4,4′-dibromostilbene, were unsuccessful. However, the use of (Z)-4,4′-diiodostilbene and a careful choice of Pd catalyst and experimental conditions, lead to a material with a >95/<5 (Z)/(E) ratio of vinylene units. The investigation of optical properties of both the (E) and (Z) polymers evidenced that (Z) linkages act as defects which reduce the effective conjugation length in the polymer backbone.     

Structure-property study of polyimides derived from PMDA and BPDA dianhydrides with structurally different diamines

A series of aromatic diamines were polymerized with two aromatic dianhydrides, pyromellitic dianhydride and 3,3^′,4,4^′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, and the resulting poly(amic acid)s were thermally cyclodehydrated to aromatic polyimides. The polyimides were characterized by determining the glass transition temperatures (T_g), thermal stability, coefficients of thermal expansion, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Structure-property relationships are elucidated and discussed in terms of the structural fragments in the polymer chain. The PMDA-based polyimides generally revealed a higher T_g than the corresponding BPDA-based analogues. Generally, the dilution of the imide content by the insertion of oxyphenylene segments into the diamines significantly reduced the T_g. The introduction of m- or o-phenylene units into the polymer backbone usually resulted in a decrease in T_g. The attachment of pendant groups on the backbone may lead to decreased or increased T_gs, depending on the structure of pendant groups. As evidenced by X-ray diffraction, the polyimides derived from rigid, rod-like diamines or the diamines having two or three p-oxyphenylene showed a higher crystalline tendency. The presence of aliphatic pendant groups slightly reduced the thermal stability of the polyimides. The other structural changes did not show a dramatic influence on the thermal stability. Some polyimides obtained from p- or m-phenylenediamine had low thermal expansion coefficients below 2×10−5°C⁻¹.     

Methylene-bridged aromatic polyesters. Synthesis,characterization, and radiation-induced crosslinking

Aromatic polyesters connected by methylene groups were synthesized. Two pairs of aromatic diacid chlorides, 3,3′-methylenedibenzoyl chloride and 4,4′-methylenedibenzoyl chloride were each polymerized via interfacial polycondensation with 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A), 3,3′-methylenediphenol, and 4,4′-methylenediphenol. For comparison, 3,3′-carbonyldibenzoyl chloride and 4,4′-carbonyldibenzoyl chloride were similarly polymerized with bisphenol A. Substitution of meta,meta' oriented phenylene groups for para,para' oriented phenylene groups had a significant and cumulative effect in reducing the glass transition temperatures of the polymers, thereby enhancing their processability. In air the methylene groups of the polyesters undergo oxidation and crosslinking at elevated temperatures. Electron beam irradiation of thin films of the methylene-linked polyesters at room temperature resulted in some chain extension and crosslinking, as evidenced by increased solution viscosity and gel formation. Irradiation at a temperature near or above the glass transition temperatures of the polymers greatly enhanced the tendency for the polymers to crosslink.     

Synthesis and characterization of second-order nonlinear optical polyurethane with high thermal stability

A second-order nonlinear optical polyurethane was formed with an X-type multi-dimensional charge-transfer (CT) chromophore (DNPIPDHPI) and 3,3^′-dimethoxy-4,4^′-diphenyl diisocyanate. Simultaneous poling and polymerization and in situ second harmonic generation (SHG) measurement technique was carried on to evaluate the thermal stability of the poling induced orientation. The SHG signal of the poled polymer film was not decay below 150 °C and remains 90% of relative d₃₃ value at 200 °C, which is better than the results reported in literature. Comparison of thermal stability indicates that the X-type chromophores possess better property in controlling the decay of the SHG activity than classic chromophores.