Synthesis and structure-property study of polyarylates derived from bisphenols with different connector groups

Several polyarylates were synthesized from the interfacial or high-temperature solution polycondensation reactions of four bisphenols including 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (BPA), 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane (BPAF), 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenylethane (BPAP), and 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (BPAPF) with various aromatic diacyl chlorides. The basic properties such as inherent viscosity, film-forming capability, crystallinity, and mechanical and thermal properties and the "structure-property" relationships of these polyarylates were investigated. The polyarylates derived from asymmetric BPAP and BPAPF had lower crystallinity and higher solubility and glass-transition temperature (T-g) than the corresponding counterparts based on symmetric BPA and BPAPF. The fluorinated polyarylates revealed higher T-g values and decomposition temperatures than the corresponding nonfluorinated polyarylates.