Polyaromatic ether–ketones and ether–keto–sulfones having various hydrophilic groups

Polyaromatic ether–ketones and polyaromatic ether–keto–sulfones were sulfonated by suspending the polymer powders in dichloroethane containing liquid sulfur tiroxide and trialkyl phosphate at room temperature. It was found that more than one sulfonic group can be introduced per each repeating unit of the polymers without degradation. The sulfonated polymers were soluble in various organic solvents, and solubility and mechanical properties depended on the initial molecular weight of polymers as well as the degrees of sulfonation. Strong films can be cast from their dimethylformamide solutions.