Synthesis and properties of new fluorinated polyarylates derived from 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethane and aromatic diacid chlorides

A new series of fluorine-containing polyarylates were synthesized by interfacial or high-temperature solution polymerization of 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethane with six aromatic diacyl chlorides. These polyarylates had inherent viscosities ranging from 0.47 to 1.37 dl/g that corresponded to weight-average and numberaverage molecular weights (by gel permeation chromatography) of 35,800-72,400 and 30,700-67,700, respectively. All polymers were highly soluble in a variety of solvents, and could afford tough, transparent, and colorless films via solution casting. The glass-transition temperatures of the polymers ranged from 209 to 271 C. All of them did not show significant decomposition below 450degreesC in both nitrogen and air atmospheres. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.