ABSTRACT:Aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-amide-ester)s have been synthesized by low temperature solution polycondensation reaction of equimolar amounts of aromatic diamines containing preformed 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings with diacid chlorides containing preformed ester linkages. The polymers showed high thermal stability with initial decomposition temperature being above 365 C and glass transition temperature in the range of 215-260 C. The weight average molecular weight was in the range of 91,000-257,000 and polydispersity is in the range of 1.64-5. The polymer films showed good mechanical properties with tensile strength in the range of 40-91 MPa, elastic modulus in the range of 2.22-3.98 GPa and elongation at break in the range of 1.85-7.37%. Conformational parameters of polymers have been calculated by Monte Carlo method with allowance for hindered rotation and discussed in relation with some physical properties. 1,2 High performances include electronic properties, electric conduction, optical properties, good hydrolytic stability, highly ordered systems, mechanical resistance and high thermal stability. But the applicability of these polymers is limited because they have rigid molecules due to the delocalization of -electrons along the polymer chain, which makes them insoluble in organic solvents and without glass transition or with too high glass transition temperature, and therefore their processing is very difficult. Research of poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s has considerably extended in the last years as can be seen from the large number of publications. Most of this research aims to improving solubility and processability of aromatic polyoxadiazoles by introduction of certain substituents on aromatic rings, flexible bridges in the chain like ether, amide, ester, isopropylidene, hexafluoroisopropylidene or voluminous units pendent to the chain, provided that the conjugation is not disturbed.
3-10We considered that the incorporation of ester together with amide groups in the macromolecular chain of aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s would result in products with enhanced solubility in organic solvents and reasonable glass transition temperature values, while maintaining a high thermal stability. Here we report the synthesis of poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-amideester)s by solution polycondensation reaction of various aromatic diamines containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring with diacid chlorides containing preformed ester groups. We studied their thermal stability, glass transition, mechanical properties, weight average molecular weight, solubility, and film forming ability and have been compared these properties with those of related polymers. Also, some physical properties of these polymers such as solubility, glass transition temperature and initial decomposition temperature have been discussed in relation with the conformational rigidity of their chains and some relationships have been shown.
EXPERIMENTAL
Starting MaterialsN-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP) (Merck) was dried over phosphorous pentoxide and distilled under reduced pressu...