A new polyurethane network was synthesized by the Diels–Alder cross-linking reaction of a polyurethane to bisfuryl monomer. Attenuated total reflectance in conjunction with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectra of the network showed the disappearance of the absorption bands of maleimide and the appearance of new bands attributed to furan-maleimide cycloadduct. Chemical shifts characteristic to the cycloadduct appeared in the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. ATR-FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated the thermal reversibility of the material by the reproduction of the retro-Diels–Alder and Diels–Alder processes upon heating and cooling. Global kinetic nonisothermal decomposition parameters in nitrogen were determined by the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. A three successive stage thermal decomposition mechanism depicted by n order reaction model for each stage was proposed. The validity of the chosen kinetic model and the values of the kinetic parameters of the individual decomposition stages were determined by the multivariate nonlinear regression method.

Novel polythioetherimides bearing azobenzene moieties were synthesized from azobismaleimides and bis-2-mercaptoethylether. Kinetics of trans-cis photoisomerization and of thermal conversion of cis to trans isomeric forms were investigated in both polymer solution and poly(methyl methacrylate) doped films using electronic absorption spectroscopy. Thermal recovery kinetics is well described by a two-exponential relation both in solution and polymer matrix, while that of low molecular weight azobismaleimide fit a first-order equation. The photoinduced cis-trans isomerization by visible light of azobenzene chromophores was examined in solution and in polymer films. The rate of photoinduced recovery was very high for azobismaleimides.

Abstract. New thermo-reversible networks were obtained from poly(vinyl furfural) and multifunctional maleimide monomers by Diels-Alder (DA) and retro-DA reactions. The poly(vinyl furfural) having acetalization degree of 15 and 25% were obtained by the acid-catalyzed homogenous acetalization of poly(vinyl alcohol) with 2-furfural in a nonaqueous media. The thermal and viscoelastic behaviour of the cross-linked materials have been studied via differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The networks exhibit considerable swelling in those organic solvents that dissolve both poly(vinyl furfural) and bismaleimides; by heating in aprotic dipolar solvents at 150°C, they become soluble.

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A new approach to the modification of azidomethyl polyethersulfones using click reactions with acetylenic derivatives in the presence of CuBr as catalyst is presented. An azidomethyl polyethersulfone was prepared by the reaction of chloromethylated polysulfone with sodium azide in dimethylformamide. By the Cu(I)‐catalysed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction of the azidomethyl polyethersulfone to acetylenic derivatives, new polyethersulfones containing 1,2,3‐triazole rings were obtained. The structures of the polymers were confirmed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopy. The polymers were characterized using dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, stress‐strain and water contact angle measurements and solubility tests. The polymers bearing 1,2,3‐triazole rings having OH or COOH as substituents exhibited static contact angles smaller than that of the parent polyethersulfone. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry