Diaminobisbenzothiazole chain extended polyurethanes as a novel class of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers with improved thermal stability and electrical insulation properties

This work was devoted to the development of a new class of modified polyurethane as an electrical insulating material. For this purpose, NCO‐terminated urethane prepolymers at different NCO contents were prepared and chain extended by 6,6′‐oxybis(2‐aminobenzothiazole) (ABT) to produce thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. All of the polymers were characterized by FTIR and ¹HNMR spectroscopies and examined for their thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. The dynamic mechanical measurements results showed two glass transitions indicating phase separation. A considerable improvement in the thermal and electrical properties in comparison to common polyurethanes was detected for these polymers. The level of enhancement in the measured properties was related to the polyol molecular weight, hard segment content, and consequently the amount of the introduced urea and benzothiazole moieties. These findings indicated the improved high service temperature performance of these materials as electrical insulator for metallic surfaces. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on molecular composite. II. Processing of molecular composites using copolymers consisting of a precursor of poly(p‐phenylene benzobisthiazole) and aromatic polyamide

The copolymerization of a precursor of poly(p‐phenylene benzobisthiazole) (PBZT) with aromatic polyamides was attempted. Two types of copolymers, randomlike and blocklike, which have different properties, were synthesized according to the copolymerization process. The copolymers were suitable for use as the reinforcing polymer in molecular composite because of the improved intermolecular hydrogen bridges between the matrix polymers, such as aromatic polyamides, and then could be converted to the PBZT copolymers by heat treatment of the molecular composite. In particular, the possibility that the fine phase structure of the molecular composite was maintained was shown, even after heat treatment at above the melting temperature of the thermoplastic matrix polymer, due to the use of a PBZT copolymer as the reinforcing polymer, introduced a fragment which had the same molecular structure as in the matrix polyamides. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 199–207, 1999     

Studies on molecular composite. I. Processing of molecular composites using a precursor polymer for poly(p‐phenylene benzobisthiazole)

The blending of a precursor polymer for poly(p‐phenylene benzobisthiazole) (PBZT) with various matrix polymers was attempted, followed by heat conversion of the PBZT precursor polymer to obtain molecular composites consisting of PBZT and the matrix polymers. A higher concentration of mixed solution using organic solvent and milder conditions to remove the solvent could be applied to blend the polymers using the precursor polymer in place of rodlike PBZT. The dispersibility of PBZT in the matrix polymer in the blended materials obtained depended on the ability to form intermolecular hydrogen bridges between the PBZT precursor and the matrix polymer. In particular, the blended material, obtained using a nonthermoplastic aromatic polyamide as the matrix polymer having a molecular structure similar to that of the PBZT prepolymer, was transparent and showed excellent reinforcing efficiency of PBZT. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 189–197, 1999     

Studies on molecular composite. III. Nano composites consisting of poly(p‐phenylene benzobisthiazole) and thermoplastic polyamide

A bulk sample of a nano composite consisting of poly(p‐phenylene benzobisthiazole) (PBZT) and a thermoplastic matrix polymer was obtained by polymer blending of a matrix polymer of thermoplastic aromatic polyamide and a reinforcing polymer of a copolymer consisting of a precursor of PBZT and a fragment in common with the matrix polymer, using organic solvent, followed by molding. The phase structure of obtained specimens was varied by controlling the molding process conditions. In particular, the mechanical properties, heat resistance, and chemical resistance of the matrix polymer of a bulk specimen which has a three‐dimensional network structure of PBZT were improved drastically, even when only a small amount of the reinforcing material was added. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 209–218, 1999     

Preparation and characterization of fluorine-containing aromatic condensation polymers. VI. Aromatic polybenzothiazoles from 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)dibenzoic acid and tetrafluoroterephthalic acid and 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzenedithiol dihydrochloride

Two fluorine-containing aromatic polybenzothiazoles were synthesized by direct polycondensation of 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)dibenzoic acid and tetrafluoroterephthalic acid with 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzenedithiol dihydrochloride using phosphorus pentoxide/methanesulfonic acid or polyphosphoric acid as both condensing agent and solvent. The effect of introduction of fluorine atom on the synthesis and properties of these polymers was discussed in detail. The perfluoroisopropylidene unit-containing polybenzothiazole was amorphous, and showed good solubility in organic solvents, excellent mechanical properties, and high thermal stability. The perfluoro-p-phenylene unit-containing polybenzothiazole was crystalline, and exhibited lyotropic behavior in concentrated sulfuric acid. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36 : 429–435, 1998     

Novel two-step synthesis of polybenzothiazoles via precursor polyamides from 2,5-bis(isopropylthio)-1,4-phenylenediamine and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides

A novel two-step method for the synthesis of polybenzothiazoles has been developed starting from 2,5-bis(isoprophylthio)-1,4-phenylenediamine and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides. The low-temperature solution polycondensation of these monomer pairs in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone afforded the aromatic polyamides with pendant isopropylthio groups having inherent viscosities in the range of 0.8 and 2.4 dL/g. The soluble precursor polyamides were subjected to thermal cyclization to the corresponding polybenzothiazoles along with the elimination of propylene and water. The resulting polymers were also characterized.