Nitrated poly(oxa-p-phenylene-3,3-phthalido-p-phenylene-oxa-p-phenyleneoxy-
phenylene) (PEEK-WC) with various average degrees of substitution was obtai
ned by reaction with several nitrating agents. By working under controlled
reaction conditions, little degradation of the parent polymer is observed.
The nitro derivatives of PEEK-WC show a high thermal stability, and are abl
e to form membranes by means of phase inversion technique. (C) 2001 John Wi
ley & Sons, Inc.