Synthesis and crystallization behavior of poly(ether ether ketone ether ketone) (PEEKEK)

In this paper, the synthesis and crystallization behavior of poly(ether eth er ketone ether ketone) (PEEKEK) are reported. PEEKEK was prepared from 4,4 '-bis(p-fluorobenzoyl) diphenyl ether (4,4'-FBDE) and hydroquinone along th e nucleophilic substitution route. The thermal properties were investigated by using DSC and TGA. The crystallization behavior of PEEKEK under several conditions, i.e., crystallization from the molten state (melt crystallizat ion), crystallization from a quenched sample (cold crystallization) and cry stallization induced by exposing glassy sample to methylene chloride (solve nt-induced crystallization) has also been investigated. The results show th at crystallization of PEEKEK could be induced by the above methods, and no polymorphism was found. The differences in the crystallization of PEEKEK in duced by the above methods are seen in their degree of crystallinity.