Thermal and mechanical properties of oxymethylene linked polymers

A series of novel polymers has been prepared by linking together copolymers of oxyethylene and oxypropylene with ans oxymethylene link, Oxymethylene l inked (OML) polymers have been made by a step polymerization reaction, Thre e different OML polymers have been synthesized starring from three differen t short chain triblock (ABA) copolymers of poly(oxyethylene) (A) and poly(o xypropylene) (B), These polymers have been characterized by gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetric analysis and Fourier tra nsform infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of the cast films a nd the rheological properties of aqueous solutions of these new polymers ha ve been studied, Pt has been observed that it is possible to modulate the t hermal and mechanical properties of these polymers by changing the starting materials. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.