Synthesis of Novel Fluorinated Poly(aryl ether ketone)s and Their Properties

A novel bisphenol monomer, (4-trifluoromethyl) phenylhydroquinone, was synthesized using a three-step synthetic procedure. Two aromatic poly(aryl ether ketone)s were then prepared via a nucleophilic polycondensation reaction of (4-trifluoromethyl) phenylhydroquinone and two difluorinated aromatic ketones, respectively. As-synthesized poly(aryl ether ketone)s show a high thermal stability, and the temperatures at 5% weight loss are above 530°C in N2 atmosphere. The solubility of the polymers is improved by introduction of bulky pendant groups. All the polymers form transparent, strong, and flexible films with tensile strengths of 65–70 MPa, Young’s moduli of 1.6–2.0 GPa, and elongations at break of 36–42%. Polymer films have low dielectric constants of 2.6–2.7 at 1 MHz and low water absorption of 0.21–0.25%. In addition, they have low absorptions at the telecommunication wavelengths of 1300 and 1550 nm.