Synthesis and characterization of cardo poly(ether-ester)s containing 1,1-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane in the main chain

A series of poly(ether-ester)s containing cardo cyclohexane moiety in the main chain was synthesized from 1,1-bis (4-(3-hydroxypropyloxy)phenyl) cyclohexane (BPPZ) and aliphatic and aromatic acid chlorides. The diol monomer, BPPZ, was synthesized from 1,1-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane (BPZ) and 3-bromo-1-propanol. The solubility of the polymers was tested in various solvents. The intrinsic viscosity of the synthesized polymers was determined by Oswald viscometer and found to be 0.33–0.48 g/dl. The molecular structures of the monomer and polymers were confirmed by Fourier transform InfraRed, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectral analyses. The thermal properties were studied with thermogravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermogravimetric analyses data revealed that the polymers were stable up to 190 °C, and start degrading thereafter. The solubility and thermal stability of the synthesized polymer is enhanced due to the introduction of methylene spacer with ether group into the polymer chain backbone. The self-extinguishing property of the synthesized polymers was studied by the determination of limiting oxygen index values with Van Krevelen’s equation.