Modification polyether ether ketone

Sulfonation is very useful chemical modification of polymer, as it induces high polarity in the polymer changing its chemical as well as physical properties. Sulfonated polymers are also important precursors for ionomer formation [75]. There are reports of sulfonation of ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) [76, 77], polyarylene-ether-sulfone [78], polyaromatic ether ketone [79], polyether ether ketone (PEEK) [80], styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, (SEBS) [81]. Poly [bis(3-methyl phenoxy) phosphozene] [82], Sulfonated polymers show a distinct peak at 1176 cm"1 due to stretching vibration of 0=S=0 in the -S03H group. Another peak appears at 881 cm 1 due to stretching vibration of S-OH bond. However, the position of different vibrational bands due to sulfonation depends on the nature of the cations as well as types of solvents [75, 76]. 

These polymers have high glass-transition temperatures while their solubility in usual organic solvents enabling chemical modifications, is an indisputable asset. Moreover, as contrary to other aromatic polymers such as polyetherketone, polyether ether ketone, the polysulfone are fully amorphous their mechanical strength does not depend on crystallinity ratios and melting temperatures which are very sensitive to the nature of chemical modifications and to their extent. 

Modified polyether-ether-ketones are of eonsiderable interest due to their exeellent mechanical toughness, thermo-oxidative stability, solvent resistanee and high transition temperature. In the last deeade eonsiderable effort has been spent to introduce chemical modifications in this class of polymers in order to obtain better physical properties and to build up membranes for eleetro-dialysis, gas dehumidification and gas separation. Relatively few atomistie simulations have been performed on this class of polymers. The monomer strueture, experimental density and the glass transition temperature of the four poly(ether ether ketone)s is reported in Figure 1.5. 

---