Synthesis and thermal behaviour of new poly(azomethine-ether)

A new poly(azomethine-ether) was synthesized by the reaction of bisphenol A with a thermotropic azomethine monomer, namely 4,4′-oxy-bis(4-chlorobenzylideneimino phenylene). In order to understand the influence of the molecular weight on the thermal properties, four fractions were isolated from the initial polymer. They were investigated by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods (IR, UV, ¹H NMR) and their thermal behaviour was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy, thermogravimetrical analysis. An increase of the thermal transition temperatures and mesophase order with increasing molecular weight was noticed.