CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(DIHALOPHENYLENE OXIDES) IN SOLUTION

Several different dihalophenylene oxide polymers by thermal decomposition of halophenoxo copper complexes were studed in toluene using light scattering. For polymers of molecular weight around 5 multiplied by 10 **4, those obtained from 4-bromo-2,6-dichlorophenoxide, 2-chloro-4,6-dibromophenoxide and 2,4,6-tribromophenoxide appear to be relatively linear with higher values of LT AN BR S**2 RT AN BR ** one-half , whereas those obtained from 2,4,6-trichlorophenoxide and 2-bromo-4,6-dichlorophenoxide appear to have branched or condensed structures with lower values of LT AN BR S**2 RT AN BR ** one-half . Values for the intrinsic viscosities and second virial coefficients were measured from approximately 17 to 50 degree C for poly(dichlorophenylene oxides) synthesized from 2,4,6-trichlorophenoxide (M//w equals 5. 3 multiplied by 10**4) and from 4-bromo-2,6-dichlorophenoxide (M//w equals 2. 49 multiplied by 10**5). These quantities both pass through a maximum as the temperature increases.