| Abstract: | Poly(aryl ether)s containing diphenylacetylene moieties in the backbone have been synthesized. When the polymers are heated an exothermic reaction, resulting from reaction of the acetylene units, occurs in the range 380- 434°C and the polymers undergo a cross-linking reaction. Polymers cross-linked at 340°C exhibit Tg increases from 2°C to complete disappearance of the Tg depending on the concentration of the diphenylacetylene group which has been incorporated into the polymer. In most cases films of the cross-linked polymers are still flexible and exhibit Young's moduli in the range 1.2-2.1 GPa at 200°C. The solubility or the amount of swelling of these cross-linked polymers in solvents depends on the mol % of diphenylacetylene groups incorporated in the polymer backbone. Copolymers have also been synthesized. |
