New poly(thioarylene sulfone) (PTAS) and poly(thioarylene phosphine oxide) (PTAPO) homopolymer and copolymers were synthesized by the reaction of sodium sulfide and 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone in the presence of NMP and water, and characterized. The r actions were conducted in a pressure reactor at about 100 PSI and 175-225°C. High molecular weights could be achieved as judged by GPC and intrinsic viscosity values. PTAS exhibits superior solvent resistance as compared to polyether sulfone. PTAS, PTAPO and PTAS-co-PTAPO exhibit high thermal stability. The copolymers show significant improvement in thermal stability over PTAS homopolymer.
September 17, 1996