Preparation and characterization of transparent polyetherketone

Abstract

Transparent polymer with excellent heat resistance and mechanical properties play an important role in many fields. However, transparent polyetheretherketones films are rarely reported, probably due to their high crystallinity. In this work, a transparent polymer polyetherketone was prepared from the reaction of 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone, 2,6‐bis(4‐hydroxybenzylidene) cyclohexanone, and tert‐butylhydroquinone in the presence of K2CO3. This new polymer has excellent thermal stability, high glass transition temperature (Tg = 172°C), good film‐casting property, high transparency, good hydrophobicity, and low saturated water absorption (0.52%). The material has broad application prospects in flexible solar cells, UV protection, and thin insulation materials.