Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Organosoluble Methyl Substituted Poly(aryl Ether Ketone)s Containing Sulfone Linkage

Several new methyl substituted poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing sulfone linkage with inherent viscosities of 0.62–0.84 dL/g have been prepared from 4,4′‐bis(2‐methylphenoxy)diphenylsulfone and 4,4′‐bis(3‐methylphenoxy)diphenylsulfone with terephthaloyl chloride and isophthaloyl chloride by electrophilic Friedel‐Crafts acylation in the presence of DMF with anhydrous AlCl 3 as a catalyst in 1,2‐dichloroethane, respectively. These polymers having weight‐average molecular weight in the range of 71,000–49,000 are all amorphous and show high glass transition temperatures ranging from 167 °C to 191 °C, excellent thermal stability at temperatures over 400 °C in air or nitrogen, high char yields of 51–58% in nitrogen and good solubility in CHCl 3 and polar solvents such as DMF, DMSO and NMP at room temperature.