Poly(ether ether ketone)s and poly(ether ether ketone ketone)s containing cardo decahydronaphthalene groups: Synthesis and characterization

New poly(ether ether ketone)s and poly (ether ether ketone ketone)s were synthesized by polycondensation of each of the three bisphenols, viz., 4,4′-(octahydro-2(1H)-naphthylidene)bisphenol, 4,4′-(octahydro-2(1H)-naphthylidene)bis-3-methylphenol, and 4,4′-(octahydro-2(1H)-naphthylidene)bis-3,5-dimethylphenol with 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone and 1,3-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene in a mixture of N,N-dimethylacetamide and toluene [1 : 1 (v/v)] in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. Inherent viscosities of poly(ether ether ketone)s and poly (ether ether ketone ketone)s were in the range 0.32–0.80 dL/g and number-average molecular weights were in the range 16,100–55,900 g/mol. Poly(ether ether ketone)s and poly(ether ether ketone ketone)s were soluble in organic solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, meta-cresol, pyridine, and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone at room temperature and could be cast into tough, transparent, and flexible films from their chloroform solutions. Wide angle x-ray diffraction measurements revealed the amorphous nature of poly(ether ether ketone)s and poly (ether ether ketone ketone)s. The glass transition temperature poly(ether ether ketone)s and poly(ether ether ketone ketone)s were in the range 185–251°C. The temperature at 10% weight loss, determined from thermogravimetric analysis, of poly(ether ether ketone)s and poly(ether ether ketone ketone)s in nitrogen atmosphere was in the range 462–493°C indicating their good thermal stability. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011