Polymer compositions based on PXE
New polymer compositions based on poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and other high-softening-temperature polymers are disclosed. These materials have a microphase domain structure that has an ionically-conductive phase and a phase with good mechanical strength and a high softening temperature. In one arrangement, the structural block has a softening temperature of about 210° C. These materials can be made with either homopolymers or with block copolymers.
1. A polymer, comprising the following structure:
wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of:
wherein:
Y is selected from the group consisting of ketones, sulfones, isopropylidene, hexafluoroisopropylidene, and amides;
R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 is each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, halogenated alkyl, alkene, aromatic rings, siloxane and alkyl with O and S ether bonds;
n is an integer ranging from 1 to 10;
a is an integer ranging from 10 to 90; and
b is an integer ranging from 10 to 90.
2. The polymer of claim 1 further comprising an additional group with the following structure:
the additional group attached to the polymer of claim 1 to form a triblock polymer with the following structure:
and wherein c is an integer ranging from 10 to 90.
3. A polymer, comprising:
an association of a plurality of block copolymer chains each comprising:
at least one ionically conducting block; and
at least one poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)block immiscible with the ionically conducting block;
wherein the chains are arranged in an ordered nanostructure comprising a continuous matrix of:
first domains defined by an association of the ionically-conductive blocks; and
second domains defined by an association of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)blocks.
4. A method of synthesizing a (poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)-polyethylene oxide) block copolymer, comprising the steps of:
a) dissolving poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) in dried solvent to form a first solution;
b) adding t-BuP 4 solution to the first solution to form a second solution;
c) stirring the second solution;
d) adding ethylene oxide to the second solution to form a third solution;
e) stirring the third solution;
f) precipitating the third solution in hexane non-solvent for the polymer;
wherein no metal is used in the method.