NEW TYPES OF CROSS-LINKABLE POLYMERS CONTAINING THE TRANS-1,2-DIPHENYLCYCLOPROPANE MOIETY

High molecular weight poly(ether sulfone)s, polyformals, and polyester s have been synthesized from the monomer trans-1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl )cyclopropane by solution polycondensation. Characterization of and cr oss-linking studies on these polymers were carried out utilizing DSC, TGA, TMA, GPC, and solution and solid state NMR. The polymers can be t hermally cross-linked when heated to 350 degrees C, and the glass tran sition temperatures (T-g) of the polymers increase after cross-linking . The resulting cross-linked networks are insoluble in all solvents tr ied. It was confirmed by MAS-C-13 NMR IR that the cyclopropane rings w ere opened on heating. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that no signif icant weight loss accompanies the cross-linking reaction.