Poly(arylene ethers)

Several new arylene ether homopolymers and copolymers have been prepared by the nucleophilic displacement of aromatic dihalides with aromatic potassium bisphenates. Polymer glass transition temperatures ranged from 114 to 310°C and a few of the polymers were semicrystalline. Two ethynylterminated poly(arylene ethers) were synthesized by reacting hydroxy-terminated oligomers with 4-ethynylbenzoyl chloride. Heat induced reaction of the acetylenic groups provided materials with good solvent resistance. The chemistry, physical and mechanical properties of the polymers are discussed.