Investigation of solution and solid-state properties of poly(R,R,4,4-cyclohexylidene diphenylene diphenyl-4,4-disulfonate)

Solution and solid-state properties of poly(R,R^′,4,4^′-cyclohexylidene diphenylene diphenyl-4,4^′-disulfonate) (PS-6: R=R^′=H; PS-7: R=CH₃, R^′=H; PS-8: R=R^′=Cl; PS-9: R=CH₃, R^′=Cl and PS-10: R=R^′=Br) have been determined and discussed in terms of nature of the substituents. Ultrasonic velocity (2 MHz) and acoustical parameters of PS-7 and PS-9 solutions in chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane and tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 30, 35 and 40 °C have been evaluated to understand the effect of methyl and chlorine groups, concentration, and temperature on molecular interactions. The data are interpreted in light of solvent-polymer and polymer-polymer interactions. Predominant solvation is observed in THF system and the least in chloroform system at all three temperatures. The structural change is observed above 2%. Both the polymers possess structure-forming tendency and it is supported by positive values of S_n.The densities of PS-7 and PS-9 determined by floatation method are in excellent agreement with calculated values but those determined by specific volume method differ remarkably from calculated values due to solvation effect. PS-7 and PS-9 possess respectively tensile strength of 38.4 and 1.1 N/mm²; electric strength of 16.2 and 25.0 kV/mm and volume resistivity of 5.7×10¹⁶ and 1.0×1017Ωcm. The low tensile strength of PS-9 is due to low molecular weight, rigid and brittle nature of the polymer chains. PS-6 to PS-9 are thermally stable up to about 349-379 °C while PS-10 up to about 279 °C and involved two-step degradation. DTA thermograms indicated T_g at about 204-226 °C. High activation energy indicated rigid nature of the polymer chains and the positive magnitudes of ΔS* indicated less ordered transition state. The nature of the substituents (CH₃, Cl and Br) affected thermal, mechanical and electrical properties.