Semi-fluorinated epoxy thermoplastics containing the alpha-methylstilbene linkage

The reaction of the mesogenic epoxy monomer, p-bis(2,3-epoxypropoxy)alpha - methylstilbene, with bis(hydroxyphenyl)-iso-propylidene and bis(hydroxyphen yl)hexafluoro-iso-propylidene affords new semifluorinated poly(hydroxy aryl ether) thermoplastics with controlled properties dependent upon fluorine i ncorporation. Step-growth polymerization in a DMAc solution (33 wt%) gave l inear polymers with molecular weights ranging from 29 000-60 000 M-w and po lydispersities (M-w/M-n) from 1.7-2.1 (gel permeation chromatography). The polymers can be solution or melt processed, exhibit T-g's ranging from 78 t o 105 degreesC (dynamic scanning calorimetry) and maintain thermal stabilit y above 390 degreesC (thermogravimetric analysis). The polymerization, char acterization, and potential mesophase formation as a function of polymer di mensions and semifluorination is discussed.