Synthesis and characterization of poly(ether ether ketone)s and poly(ether ether ketone ketone)s containing pendant biphenyl and naphthyl groups

New poly(ether ether ketone)s (PEEKs) and poly(ether ether ketone ketone)s (PEEKKs) containing pendant biphenyl and naphthyl groups were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction of each of the four bisphenols viz., 1-(4-biphenylyl)-1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane, 1-(4-biphenylyl)-1,1-bis(3-methyl,4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane, 4,4’-[1-(2-naphthalenyl)ethylidene] bis-phenol and 4,4’-[1-(2-naphthalenyl) ethylidene] bis-3-methylphenol with 4,4’-difluorobenzophenone and 1,3-bis(4–fluorobenzoyl)benzene in a solvent mixture of N,N-dimethylacetamide and toluene in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. Inherent viscosities and number-average molecular weights of polymers were in the range of 0.42–0.86 dl/g and 2.40–7.55 × 104, respectively. PEEKs and PEEKKs were amorphous in nature and were readily soluble in a wide range of organic solvents and could be cast into flexible and tough films from chloroform solution. Glass transition temperature of PEEKs and PEEKKs were in the range of 180°C –200°C. T10 values of PEEKs and PEEKKs were in the range of 424°C–512°C in nitrogen atmosphere, indicating their good thermal stability.