SYNTHESIS OF NEW LINEAR-POLYMERS CONTAINING PHOSPHORUS ATOM IN THE MAIN-CHAIN BY THE RADICAL POLYADDITION - ADDITION POLYMERS OF PHENYLPHOSPHINE WITH 1,4-DIVINYLBENZENE OR 1,4-DIISOPROPENYLBENZENE AND THEIR PROPERTIES

A polyaddition of phenylphosphine (PH) to 1,4-divinylbenzene (DVB) or 1,4-diisopropenylbenzene (DIPB) was carried out by radical initiations or UV irradiation at 60-80-degrees-C in toluene under a nitrogen atmo sphere. The soluble polymer with higher molecular weight (M(w)BAR = 2 X 10(4)) was obtained in a high yield with AIBN initiator for 95 h in the presence of 5% excess of PH to DVB (monomer feed ratio [DVB]0/[PH] 0 = 1/1.05). On the other hand, a polyaddition of PH to DIPB proceeded much slower than the case of DVB, but the high polymer was obtained i n a high yield by choosing polyaddition conditions such as polyadditio n temperature and initiator concentration. From H-1-NMR, IR analyses, and phosphorus content of the polymers, it was characterized that both polymers have the alternating structure consisting of PH and DVB or D IPB units in 1 : 1 ratio. The glass transition and decomposition tempe ratures of both polymers under a nitrogen atmosphere were almost simil ar: 15-30-degrees-C and 380-385-degrees-C, respectively; but, the poly mers were oxidized by heating under an atmosphere of air. The polymers had a self-extinguishing property and the polymer blend of the flamma ble polymers such as polystyrene and polyethylene with the phosphorus- containing polymers exhibited an excellent flame resistance. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.