SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF POLYETHER KETONE AND POLYETHER KETONE SULFONE COPOLYMERS

Polyether ketones and polyether ketone sulfone copolymers were prepare d by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 4,4'-difluorobenzopheno ne with 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone and with varying mole proportions o f 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone and 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylsulfone using b enzophenone/sulfolane solvent mixture in the presence of K2CO3. 4,4'-D ifluorobenzophenone was prepared from the reaction of fluorobenzene wi th carbon tetrachloride in the presence of AlCl3. The polymers were ch aracterized by different physico-chemical techniques. The crystallinit y of the polymers was found to decrease with increase in concentration of the dihydroxydiphenylsulfone units in the polymer. Thermogravimetr ic studies showed that all the polymers were stable up to 460 degrees C with a char yield above 45% at 900 degrees C in N-2 atmosphere. The glass transition temperature of the polymers was found to increase wit h increase in concentration of the dihydroxydiphenylsulfone units in t he polymer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.