Association Phenomena of Poly(arylene ether sulfone)s in Dimethylformamide

Abstract

Three poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (two polymers and one copolymer) containing diphenylfluorene, phenolphthalein and 2,4-bis[(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1-(phenyltio) benzene)] units were synthesized by the classical Williamson polyetherification reaction. The association phenomenon in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was investigated by different methods: gel permeation chromatography (GPC), viscosity, atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Both AFM and DLS measurements evidenced the formation of aggregates with spherical or ellipsoidal shape at a concentration around 0.05 wt.%. This behavior could be explained by dipole-dipole interactions between macromolecular chains, probably with the participation of solvent molecules, and by H-bonds involving hydroxyl end groups.

Keywords:

• association
• diphenylfluorene
• phenolphthalein
• polyethersulfone

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to CNCSIS (National Council of Scientific Research from High School) for the financial support through the Project No. 104GR/2007; 71GR/2008; and partially from the Project IDEI No. 5/2007. They thank Dr. A. Airinei and Dr. G. Hitruc for helpful discussions.