POLY(ETHER KETONE)S WITH CYCLOHEXYL-SUBSTITUTED INDAN GROUPS IN THE MAIN-CHAIN

Poly(ether ketone)s containing 1,3-dicyclohexyl-1-methyl-3-phenylindan groups in the main chain were prepared from different bisphenols and a bisfluoride monomer which contains the indan group. The bisfluoride monomer was synthesized in a three-step process, starting from cyclohe xyl phenyl ketone. All polymers are soluble in tetrahydrofuran, chloro form and N,N-dimethylpropyleneurea. No melt transitions were detected by differential scanning calorimetry. Glass transition temperatures ar e relatively high (218 degrees C to 255 degrees C). In gel-permeation chromatography with polystyrene calibration, 8400 < (M) over bar(n) < 17900 and 34500 < (M) over bar(w) < 76600 were found. The thermooxidat ive stability of these polymers is fairly low with decomposition start ing at 400 degrees C in air. This was attributed to the methine group of the cyclohexyl ring since the major decomposition products proved t o be cyclohexane and cyclohexene.