| abstract |
When two 4-naphthoxyphenyl moieties are connected through a polar linking group, Y, it does not interfere with an oxidation process which results in dehydrogenative polymerization to yield polyarylene polyether (PAPE) polymers having a weight average mol wt greater than 10,000. Homo- and copolymers having a repeating unit in which a 4,4ʹ-di(1-naphthoxyphenyl) moiety is connected through its phenyl rings to a bivalent polar residue are descrbed. A specific monomer is selected from the group consisting of 4,4ʹ-di(1-naphthoxy)diphenyl sulfone (DNDPS, Y= SO₂) and, 4,4ʹ-di(1-naphthoxy)benzophenone (DNBP, Y= CO). Because the process provides thermoplastic PAPE polymers having a Tg in the range from about 250°C to about 350°C with excellent physical properties, the polymers are suitable for use in the fabrication of composites for aerospace vehicles subjected to elevated temperatures. |