Synthesis and properties of poly(aryl ether ether ketone) copolymers with pendant methyl groups

• Published in: European polymer journal 2004-11, Vol.40 (11), p.2645-2651
• Main Authors: Rao, V.L., Sabeena, P.U., Saxena, Akanksha, Gopalakrishnan, C., Krishnan, K., Ravindran, P.V., Ninan, K.N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activation energy; Applied sciences; Differential scanning calorimetry; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; PEEK copolymer; Pendant methyl group; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers with particular properties; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Thermogravimetry; Wide angle X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2004.07.002

Polyether ether ketone and polyether ether ketone copolymers were prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone with hydroquinone and with varying mole proportions of hydroquinone and methyl hydroquinone using sulfolane solvent in the presence of anhydrous K 2CO 3. The polymers were characterised by different physico-chemical techniques. The crystallinity of the polymers was found to decrease with increase in concentration of the methyl hydroquinone units in the polymer. Thermogravimetric studies showed that all the polymers were stable upto 430 °C with a char yield above 49% at 900 °C in N 2 atmosphere. The glass transition temperature was found to increase and the crystalline melting temperature and activation energy were found to decrease with increase in concentration of the methyl hydroquinone units in the polymer.