Synthesis and characterization of poly(hydroxyether). II. Poly(hydroxyethers) based on various bisphenols and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxypheny)hexafluoropropane

Several kinds of linear copoly(hydroxyethers) (CPHEs) were prepared by the base-induced condensation of bisphenol with epichlorohydrin in a polar mixe d solvent. The CPHEs were based on bisphenol AF [2,2-bis(4-hydroxypheny)hex afluoro-propane], and the composition ratio of bisphenol AF and bisphenol w as 50 : 50 mol/mol. The CPHEs and the corresponding homopoly(hydroxyethers) (HPHEs) were characterized in terms of reduced viscosity, NMR, differentia l scanning calorimetry (DSC), solubility, and contact angle. NMR results in dicated that the compositions of the copolymers were in good agreement with the feed compositions in the preparation. DSC analysis revealed that the C PHEs and HPHEs were amorphous polymers. The incorporation of bisphenol AF i nto the HPHE increased the solubility in many kinds of organic solvents whe n the CPHEs were compared with the corresponding HPHE. In the measurement o f contact angles of water and plasma for poly(hydroxyethers) (PHEs) and com mon hydrophobic polymers, the peculiar phenomenon that the contact angles o f plasma were higher than that of water was observed only in the case of PH Es. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1697-1709, 2001.