SYNTHESIS, PROPERTIES AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF SULFO-PENDENT POLY(ARYLENE ETHER KETONE)S

High molecular weight sulpho-pendent poly(arylene ether ketone) homopo lymers and copolymers were synthesized with inherent viscosities rangi ng from 0.94 dl g(-1) to 1.20 dl g(-1) and glass transition temperatur es (T(g)s) in the range 190-200 degrees C. Their potential use as tran sparent matrix hosts for second-order NLO chromophores was explored fr om the point of view of obtaining monodisperse guest-host systems medi ated by specific interaction between the sulphonic acid pendant of the polymer host and the basic functionality of the chromophore structure . Homogeneously dispersed, optically clear thin him composites were ob tained for aromatic heterocyclic chromophores with electron-rich thien yl, N,N-dialkylamino or N,N-diphenylamino donors and a pyridyl accepto r in their molecular structures.