HYDROCARBON POLYMERS CONTAINING 6-MEMBERED RINGS IN THE MAIN-CHAIN - MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF POLY(1,3-CYCLOHEXADIENE)

The relationship between the microstructure and the properties of poly (1,3-cyclohexadiene)s, obtained by living anionic polymerization with an alkyllithium/amine system, and their hydrogenated derivatives are r eported. The 1,2-bond/1,4-bond molar ratio of poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene) was determined by measuring BD-NMR with the H-H COSY method. The glas s transition temperature of poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene) was found to rise with an increase in the ratio of 1,2-bonds to 1,4-bonds or with an in crease of the number average molecular weight. The 1,2-bond of the pol ymer chain gives a high flexural strength and heat distortion temperat ure. Hydrogenated poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene) has the highest T-g (231 de grees C) among all hydrocarbon polymers ever reported. 1,3-Cyclohexadi ene-butadiene-1,3-cyclohexadiene triblock copolymer and 1,3-cyclohexad iene-styrene-1,3-cyclohexadiene triblock copolymer have high heat resi stance and high mechanical strength. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.