Fluorinated poly(aryl ether)s containing difluoromethylene and tetrafluoroethylene moieties

Abstract

Novel fluorinated poly(aryl ether)s containing difluoromethylene (–CF₂–) and tetrafluoroethylene (–CF₂CF₂–) segments were synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution polymerization of bis(4-fluorophenyl)difluoromethane and 1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane. Properties of these partially fluorinated polymers were investigated in comparison with their carbonyl analogues, i.e. poly(aryl ether ketone)s and poly(aryl ether benzil)s, to study the effects of fluorinated moieties in the polymer backbone. These fluorinated polymers showed better solubility, higher thermal stability, and lower glass transition temperatures than those carbonyl containing polymers. Transparent, flexible and tough films were fabricated using either solution casting or compress molding, and they showed good UV transmittance, low dielectric constants and elastic moduli.