ARYLIDENE POLYMERS .16. SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND MORPHOLOGY OF NEW POLYESTERS OF DIARYLIDENECYCLOHEPTANONE CONTAINING AZO AND AZOMETHINE GROUPS IN THE MAIN CHAIN

A new class of linear unsaturated polyesters of diarylidenecycloheptanone containing azo or azomethine groups in the polymer main chain has been synthesized by interfacial polycondensation of 4,4'-azodibenzoyl chloride, 3,3'-azodibenzoyl chloride, and 4,4'[1,4-phenylene bis(methylidenenitrilo)]dibenzoyl chloride with 2,7 bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene)cycloheptanone at ambient temperature. The resulting polyesters were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, solubility, and viscometry measurements. The thermal properties of the polymers were evaluated by TGA and DTA measurements. The crystallinity of the polymers was examined by x-ray analysis. The morphology of a high performance polyester, namely poly[oxycarbonyl-3,3'-azobenzenecarbonyloxy-p-phenylene-methylidyne (2-oxo-1,3-cycloheptanediylidene) methylidyne-p-phenylene], has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The UV-visible spectra of polymers V and VI were measured in m-cresol solution and showed characteristic absorption bands at 468 and 490 nm due to n-pi* transition. In addition, the electrical properties of the polymers were measured.