SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(ARYLENE ETHER SULFONE AMIDE)S

Methyl-substituted or unsubstituted aromatic dicarboxylic acids and di amines containing ether and sulfone linkages between phenylene units w ere used alone or in combination with p-phenylenediamine, m-phenylened iamine, terephthalic acid, and isophthalic acid to prepare flexible or semirigid aromatic polyamides by direct polycondensation activated by triphenyl phosphite and pyridine. The inherent viscosities of the obt ained polymers ranged from 0.40 to 1.01 dL/g. The wholly flexible poly amides are amorphous, are readily soluble in N,N-dimethylacetamide, di methyl sulfoxide, and m-cresol, and can afford transparent, flexible, and tough films by solution-casting. The polyamides pre pared from p-p henylenediamine or terephthalic acid are partially crystalline and mel t around 410 degrees C. Differential scanning calorimetry shows glass transition temperature in the 202-255 degrees C range for the wholly f lexible polyamides. All the polyamides are thermally stable in excess of 400 degrees C. The methyl-substituted polyamides had higher glass t ransition temperatures, but lower initial decomposition temperatures, than the corresponding unsubstituted polyamides.