Abstract: | Poly(p-phenylene pyromellitamic acid)s were synthesized over the weight-average molecular weight range 8,000 to 22,000. The polymers were recovered as amorphous powders composed of 3–4 × 1–2 μ platelets 0.1–0.2 μ thick containing 20–30% associated solvent. Consumption of reactants and attainment of the ultimate molecular weight of the polymer were found to occur within the first few minutes of reaction. The polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy; ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and infrared spectroscopy; x-ray analysis; viscometry; and light-scattering photometry. The intrinsic viscosity–molecular weight relation for the polymer in DMF was \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \eta ] = 25.2 \times 10^{ - 4} \bar M_w^{0.56} $\end{document} . |