A STUDY OF SOLUTIONS OF CARBORANE-CONTAIN ING POLYAMIDE

Solutions of poly(carboranylen) in dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamid e, and tetrahydrofuran were examined using light scattering. It was fo und that in the amide solvents, three parallel processes can occur: pr omotion of the polyelectrolyte effect, polymer degradation, and gelati on. Depending on the conditions (concentration, temperature, storage t ime, solvent purity), either the decomposition of the carborane fragme nt and subsequent degradation of the macromolecules, or intermolecular bonding resulting in structuration of the solution was shown to domin ate. Solutions in dimethylacetamide were more stable than those in dim ethylformamide.