Bakelite polysulfone

The first aromatic sulfone polymer produced commercially was introduced as Bakelite polysulfone but now is sold by Union Carbide under the trade name Udel. It is made by reaction of the disodium salt of bisphenol A (BPA) with 4,4 -dichIorodiphenyl sulfone in a mixed solvent of chlorobenzene and dimethyl sulfoxide (eq. 12). 

The first commercial polymer Table 21.3, II) was offered in 1965 by Union Carbide as Bakelite Polysulfone, now renamed Udel. In 1967 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing introduced Astrel 360 Table 21.3, V), which they referred to as a polyarylsulfone. In 1972 ICI brought a third material onto the market which they called a polyethersulphone (III) and which they then marketed as Victrex. They also introduced a material intermediate between III and V known as Polyethersulphone 720P (IV) but which has now been withdrawn. In the late 1970s Union Carbide introduced Radel (VI), which has a higher level of toughness. Around 1986 Union Carbide sold their interest in polysulphones to Amoco. In addition the Astrel materials were produced by Carborundum under licence from ICI. 

Lyons and coworkers studied the ESR spectra of bakelite polysulfone [—CgH4— O—CgH4—SO2—CgH4—O—CgH4—C(CH3)2—] y-irradiated at 77 K and found features characteristic of at least four radicals, the cyclohexadienyl radical, formed from addition to the aromatic ring, methylene groups (— CH2) formed from H abstraction from the methyl group, phenoxy radicals and peroxy radicals. 

Results of some of these short-term tests are shown in Table II. A comparison is given between PPS and five other plastics nylon (Zytel 101), polycarbonate (Lexan 141), polysulfone (Bakelite Polysulfone), polyphenylene oxide (Noryl), and polyetherimide (Ultem 2300). The data presented are based upon retention of tensile strength for all plastics except the Ultem 2300, which is based upon retention of flexural strength. Unsuccessful attempts were made to injection mold ASTM Type IV tensile bars out of the Ultem compound, but flexural strength bars could be made. Experience has shown that chemical resistance tests monitored by flexural strength retention are comparable to those monitored by retention of tensile strength. 

Polyarylether sulfones are an important group of high performance polymers the first member, Bakelite polysulfone (Udel 50), may be made by condensation of a bisphenol (as the disodium salt, 51) with 4,4 -dichlorodiphenyl sulfone 52 (Equation 6). 

Frederick Frey and Walter Shultze were instrumental early researchers. Frey was among the first to dehydrogenate paraffins catalytically to olefins and then the olefins to diolefins that serve as feedstocks to the production of many of today s polymers. In competition with Bakelite, he discovered the preparation of polysulfone polymers made from the reaction of sulfur dioxide and olefins creating a hard Bakelite-like material. Frey and Schultz also developed a process that allowed the production of 1,3-butadiene from butane that allowed the synthesis of SR. 

Bakelite [Bakelite AG], TM for polyethylene, polypropylene, epoxy, phenolic, polystyrene, phenoxy, perylene, polysulfone, ethylene copolymers, ABS, acrylics, and vinyl resins and compounds. 

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