THERMOTROPIC POLYESTERS - SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF T-BUTYL SUBSTITUTED POLY(1,4-PHENYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)S

Copolyesters of poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalate) and poly(t-butyl-1,4-phenylene terephthalate) are synthesized by melt polycondensation using an acetolysis route. The products are characterized by solution viscometry, wide-angle X-ray scattering, hot-stage polarizing microscopy and thermal analysis (d.s.c., t.g.a. and t.m.a.). The copolymers are semicrystalline throughout the range, exhibit a minimum melting temperature at approximately equimolar proportions of the two components, and are melt-processable in the middle of the range.