New polymer syntheses VIII. Synthesis, characterization and morphology of new unsaturated copolyesters based on dibenzylidenecycloalkanones

A new interesting class of linear, unsaturated copolyesters based on dibenzylidenecycloalkanones has been synthesized by interfacial polycondensation of isophthaloyl chloride or sebacoyl chloride with 2,5-bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene) cyclopentanone I, 2,6-bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene) cyclohexanone II, 2,6-divanillylidenecyclohexanone III or 2,7-bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene)cycloheptanone IV at ambient temperature. The resulting copolyesters were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and solubility. Additionally, inherent viscosities of copolyesters in the range 0·53–0·98dlg−1 were determined. The thermal properties of the polymers were evaluated by TGA and DSC measurements and correlated with their structural units. The crystallinity of some copolyesters was examined by X-ray analysis. In addition, the electrical properties of the copolyesters were tested and the morphology of selected examples of the copolyesters was examined by scanning electron microscopy.