FUNCTIONALIZATION OF POLY(ARYL ETHER ETHER KETONE) (PEEK) - SYNTHESISAND PROPERTIES OF ALDEHYDE AND CARBOXYLIC-ACID SUBSTITUTED PEEK

Dibromomethyl substituted poly(aryl ether ether ketone) (PEEK) has bee n prepared from methylpoly(aryl ether ether ketone) by bromination wit h bromine. Hydrolysis of dibromomethyl-PEEK in aqueous NMP affords the aldehyde substituted PEEK. Oxidation of aldehyde PEEK with sodium chl orite gives the carboxylated PEEK. The carboxylic acid group is conver ted to the methyl ester. The structure of these polymers is characteri zed by IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, and size-exclusion chromatography. The g lass transition temperatures and thermal stabilities have been determi ned by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry.