1984 Volume 41 Issue 12 Pages 711-716
Aromatic azo polymers were prepared by oxidative coupling polymerization of 3, 4′- and 4, 4′-diamine derivatives of bibenzyl, trans-stilbene, and tolan; inherent viscosities of two bibenzyl-containing azo polymers and four azo polymers having stilbene and tolan structures are 1.0-1.8 and 0.3-0.4dl/g, respectively. These aromatic azo polymers are brown-black powders, and are soluble in hot methanesulfonic acid but insoluble in all other organic solvents including N, N-dimethylacetamide. The 4, 4′-series azo polymers are crystalline, while 3, 4′-series polymers are amorphous. The aromatic azo polymers are infusible and lose 10% weight above 400°C and 450°C in air and nitrogen, respectively. The thermal stability of both 3, 4′- and 4, 4′-series polymers increases in the order of the bibenzyl-containing polymers<the trans-stilbene-containing polymers <the tolan-containing polymers. The rate constants for the photoisomerization of the aromatic azo polymers with visible light were determined in methanesulfonic acid at 30°C.
