Synthesis of poly(arylate-siloxane)s in supercritical carbon dioxide

The reaction between poly(4,4′-isopropylidene-2,2′-diphenylene (tere)isophthalate) copolymer and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was investigated in supercritical carbon dioxide at 150 atm and 100° C. It was found that ester bonds in the copolyarylate undergo aminolysis under the above conditions to give rise to the formation of siloxane-containing amides, whose interaction with phenol groups of the macromolecules and moisture affords an insoluble poly(arylate-co-siloxane) fraction. Under the action of moisture, three-dimensional structures containing polyarylate and polysiloxane fragments are formed in the soluble fraction of the copolymer via the combined hydrolysis of ethoxysilane groups. The formation of the siloxane network affects the properties of the polymers. In particular, thermomechanical and thermal tests showed that sample deformation at 250°C decreases from 80 to 15%, while the carbon residue at 725°C increases twofold as compared to that of an initial polyarylate sample.