Synthesis and characterization of new soluble polyamides containing ether and pendant cyclododecylidene groups

Abstract

A series of new soluble polyamides having flexible ether and bulky pendant cyclododecylidene groups in the polymer chain were prepared by the direct polycondensation of 1,1-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)cyclododecane (BAPCD) and various aromatic dicarboxylic acids in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. Polymers having inherent viscosities of 0.74–1.00 dl/g were produced in high yield. Almost all the polymers could be readily dissolved in polar solvents such as NMP, dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N, N-dimethylformamide, m-cresol, pyridine and tetrahydrofuran. Most of the polymers could be solution-cast into transparent, flexible, tough films which were further characterized by X-ray and mechanical analysis. X-ray diffractograms of polyamides indicated all polymers were amorphous except the polymer derived from rigid diacid such as 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid. Most of the polymers revealed a distinct glass transition on the differential scanning calorimetry traces in the range of 234–273 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that most of the polymers were stable up to 400°C in nitrogen atmosphere. The polymer films had a tensile strength range of 88–147 MPa and high tensile modulus range of 2.8–3.5 GPa. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.