Polyarylates, thermal degradation

Early studies of the thermal degradation of so-called polyarylates were covered by Neiman [100] and Ehlers and co-workers [101]. Since then, several highly aromatic and specifically liquid crystalline (mesogenic) polyesters have been examined in terms of their anaerobic thermal degradation characteristics. These inclnde homopolymers of hydroxybenzoic acids [102-105] copolymers of hydroxybenzoic acid with hydroxynaphthoic acid [105-108] polymers which are essentially copolymers of hydroxybenzoic acid and alkyene terephthalates [107-118] copolymers of hydroxybenzoic acid with other aromatic polyesters [119-122] phenolic and bisphenolic terephthalates [123-127] poly(oxynaphthoate)s [128] and liquid crystal polyesters (LCP) containing unsaturated acids as part of a copolyester chain [129-131]. 

G. F. L. Ehlers, K. R. Fisch, and W. R. Powell, Thermal degradation of polymers with phenylene units in the chain. III. Polyarylates, Journal of Polymer Science Part A-I, 7, 2969 (1969). 

Polyaryl sulfone consists mainly of phenyl and biphenyl groups linked by thermally stable ether and sulfone groups. It is distinguished from polysulfone polymers by the absence of aUphatic groups, which are subject to oxidative attack. This aromatic structure gives it excellent resistance to oxidative degradation and accounts for its retention of mechanical properties at high temperatures. 

High-temperature thermoplastics, such as polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether imide, polyaryl ether ketone, and polyphenylene ether are processed at high temperatures (some above 300 °C). Here, the limit of pyrolysis is almost reached. Degradation and cross-linking as well as discoloration can occur thermal-oxidative and thermal-mechanical degradation under processing conditions have not been sufficiently investigated [38]. 

---