Investigation of solution and solid-state properties of poly(R,R′,4,4′-cyclohexylidene diphenylene diphenyl-4,4′-disulfonate)

Solution and solid-state properties of poly(R,R′,4,4′-cyclohexylidene diphenylene diphenyl-4,4′-disulfonate) (PS-6: R=R′=H; PS-7: R=CH3, R′=H; PS-8: R=R′=Cl; PS-9: R=CH3, R′=Cl and PS-10: R=R′=Br) have been determined and discussed in terms of nature of the substituents. Ultrasonic velocity (2 MHz) and acoustical parameters of PS-7 and PS-9 solutions in chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane and tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 30, 35 and 40 °C have been evaluated to understand the effect of methyl and chlorine groups, concentration, and temperature on molecular interactions. The data are interpreted in light of solvent–polymer and polymer–polymer interactions. Predominant solvation is observed in THF system and the least in chloroform system at all three temperatures. The structural change is observed above 2%. Both the polymers possess structure-forming tendency and it is supported by positive values of Sn. The densities of PS-7 and PS-9 determined by floatation method are in excellent agreement with calculated values but those determined by specific volume method differ remarkably from calculated values due to solvation effect. PS-7 and PS-9 possess respectively tensile strength of 38.4 and 1.1 N/mm2; electric strength of 16.2 and 25.0 kV/mm and volume resistivity of 5.7×1016 and 1.0×1017 Ω cm. The low tensile strength of PS-9 is due to low molecular weight, rigid and brittle nature of the polymer chains. PS-6 to PS-9 are thermally stable up to about 349–379 °C while PS-10 up to about 279 °C and involved two-step degradation. DTA thermograms indicated Tg at about 204–226 °C. High activation energy indicated rigid nature of the polymer chains and the positive magnitudes of ΔS* indicated less ordered transition state. The nature of the substituents (CH3, Cl and Br) affected thermal, mechanical and electrical properties.