THERMALLY CROSS-LINKABLE POLY(ARYL ETHER)S CONTAINING A CHALCONE MOIETY

High molecular weight poly(aryl ethe)s containing internal chalcone gr oups have been synthesized from 4,4'-dihydroxychalcone and 1,3-bis(4-h ydroxycinnamoyl)benzene by solution polycondensation with activated ar omatic bishalides. Characterization of and crosslinking studies on the se polymers were carried out utilizing DSC, TGA, GPC and NMR. The poly mers can be thermally crosslinked when heated above 300 degrees C, and the glass transition temperatures (T-g) of the polymers increase afte r crosslinking. The resulting crosslinked networks are insoluble in al l organic solvents tried. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that no sig nificant weight loss accompanies the crosslinking reaction. These poly mers can be converted into polypyrazolines by reaction with hydrazine monohydrate.