Synthesis and characterization of poly(ether naphthalimide)s

A series of new poly(ether imide)s containing the naphthalimide moiety were prepared from bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)naphthalimides and several bisphenols by aromatic nucleophilic displacement polymerization. These polyimides had in herent viscosities in the range of 0.31-1.04 dL/g in chloroform and glass t ransition temperatures of 283.0-341.6 degrees C by differential scanning ca lorimetry. The onset temperature for 5% weight loss for all the polymers wa s over 448 degrees C, as assessed by thermogravimetry at a heating rate 10 degrees C/min in nitrogen. In addition, these novel polyimides exhibited go od solubility in organic solvents including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dim ethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and chloro form. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.