SEGMENTED COPOLY(ETHER-ESTER) ELASTOMERS - INFLUENCE OF HARD SEGMENT LENGTH AND SUBSTITUTION ON MESOPHASE FORMATION

Syntheses of segmented copoly(ether-ester)s with yl-1,4-phenyleneoxyca rbonyl-1,4-phenylenecarbonyl) (methyl ro-1,4-phenyleneoxycarbonyl-1,4- phenylenecarbonyl) (chloro series) hard segments and poly(oxytetrameth ylene) soft segments, are reported. The methodology consisted of seque ntial melt condensation of terephthaloyl chloride with poly(oxytetrame thylene)glycol (M(n)BAR = 250) [POTMG] and hydroquinone (HQ)/methylhyd roquinone (Me-HQ)/chlorohydroquinone (Cl-HQ). Hard segment length as w ell as substitution in core of hard segment were varied (H to CH3/Cl) while maintaining the soft segment length constant. Copolymers were ch aracterised for solubility behavior and by infrared spectroscopy. X-ra y diffraction, DSC and polarising microscopy. Thermal properties were found to be dependent on average length of hard segment as well as on the type of substituent in the core of hard segment. All copoly(ether- ester)s are elastomeric at room temperature (25-degrees-C). Some of th e polymers synthesised exhibit thermotropic liquid crystalline behavio r.