Synthesis and Characterization of New Poly(sulfoxide-ether-amide)s from 2,2'-Sulfoxide-bis-(4-methyl phenoxy acetic acid) and Various Diisocyanates

A series of new poly(sulfoxide-ether-amide)s (PSEA_a–c) was prepared from 2,2′-sulfoxide bis(4-methyl phenoxy acetic acid) (MPAA) with toluene diisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Also PSEA_d was synthesized from MPAA with 4,4′-methylene-bis-(4-phenylisocyanate) (MDI) and its properties were compared with the PSEA that was synthesized from MPAA with 4,4′-methylene dianiline. The polycondensation was performed under two different conditions. Polymer structures were identified by elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The majority of polymers were found to be completely soluble in most of the organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide,N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide and N-methylpyrrolidone even at room temperature and few became soluble on heating. The resulting PSEAs having inherent viscosities in the range 0.12–0.83 dl/g were obtained in moderate yield. The 10% weight loss temperatures of PSEA_a–d, from their TGA curves, were found to be in the range of 232–410°C in argon atmosphere. The glass transition temperatures of PSEA_a–d, determined by DSC, were in the range 175–261°C.