METHOD OF FORMING HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLY(PHENYLENE ETHER), POLY(PHENYLENE ETHER) FORMED THEREBY, AND FIBER AND ARTICLE COMPRISING THE POLY(PHENYLENE ETHER)

摘要

A poly(phenylene ether) can be prepared by a method that includes reacting 2,6-dimethylphenol in the presence of toluene, oxygen, copper ion, bromide ion, and N,N′-di-tert-butylethylenediamine to form a poly(phenylene ether). The mole ratio of 2,6-dimethylphenol to copper ion is 160:1 to 300:1, the mole ratio of N,N′-di-tert-butylethylenediamine to copper ion is 1.5:1 to 3:1, and the mole ratio of atomic oxygen to 2,6-dimethylphenol is 0.9:1 to 1.5:1. The process can produce poly(phenylene ether) having a high molecular weight and a high incorporated amine content.