| Abstract: | High-molecular-weight polysulfones that contained 1,3-enyne linkages in the polymer backbone were prepared by the reaction of potassium salts of (E)-1,3-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)-1-buten-3-yne and 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl with 4,4′-dihalodiphenylsulfones in DMSO-sulfolane solvent mixtures. The polymers were soluble in methylene chloride and exhibited intrinsic viscosities as high as 0.74 (in DMAC at 30°C) with glass transition temperatures ranging from 179 to 214°C. It was postulated that on heating the polymers would cure via a intramolecular cycloaddition reaction to from a 2-phenylnaphthalene fused ring system along the polymer backbone. Thermal analytical data studies on cured polymer films and investigations of the products obtained from the thermal reactions of model compounds indicated that the primary curing reaction was intermolecular rather than intramolecular in nature. Additional data from testing fabricated composites indicated that the enyne polysulfones have suitable properties for use as high-temperature thermoplastic composite materials. |
