Synthesis and characterisation of poly(arylene sulphides)—Part 1: Poly(phenylene sulphide), poly(2-methyl phenylene sulphide) and poly(2,6-dimethyl phenylene sulphide)

A facile synthesis of poly(phenylene sulphide) (PPS), poly(2-methyl phenylene sulphide) (PMPS) and poly(2,6-dimethyl phenylene sulphide) (PDMPS) by solution polymerisation of the respective copper(I)-4-bromothiophenoxides at atmospheric pressure is described. Conditions have been optimised for the preparation of high molecular weight materials and these have been characterised prior to studies of their curing behaviour and thermal-oxidative degradation.