| Abstract: | Radical copolymerization of N-(azo dye) maleimide or N-(substituted phenyl) maleimide and styrene were carried out using 2,2′-azobis-isobutyronitrile as an initiator in THF at 60°C. These copolymers exhibit high solubility in most of the organic solvents and excellent thermal stability up to 280°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The copolymer films which were heated at 200–240°C under high corona field exhibit d33 = 3–5 pm/V, in the Maker-fringe measurement. Experimental results also showed that the copolymer with azo dye as chromophore did not decay in second harmonic response even at 130°C. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
