Poly(aryl ether benzoxazole) block copolymers

Abstract

We have used new synthetic procedure in the preparation of imide containing glassy-glassy block copolymers. A monomer(s)-performed oligomer synthetic route was used to prepare amic alkyl ester-aryl ether benzoxazole block copolymers. Our research has focused on the preparation of imide-aryl ether benzoxazole block copolymers since poly(aryl ether benzoxazoles) (PBO) are tough engineering thermoplastics with high Tg's and exceptional thermal stability. Incorporation of the semi-flexible PBO co-block could modify semi-rigid polyimides to afford new materials with improved modulus, ductility and auto-adhesion characteristics. Moreover, through the judicious choice of the block molecular weights and solubility parameter differences, either homogeneous or microphase separated morphologies should be possible, allowing an additional means of influencing the properties of these materials. In this communication, we describe our preliminary investigations on the synthesis of these novel copolymers and also summarize their thermal and mechanical properties.