Introduction of fluorin into PBO polymer chains: Toward higher thermal stability and lower dielectric constant

A series of novel fluorinated benzoxazole polymers (6FPBO’s) with high thermal stability and low dielectric constant were synthesized by copolymerization of 1,3-diamino-4, 6-dihydroxybenzene dihydrochloride (DAR), 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (PTA) and various amount of 4′4-(hexafluoroisopro-pylidene) bis (benzoic acid) (BIS-B-AF) in the medium of polyphosphoric acid (PPA). 6FPBO fibers were then obtained via dry-jet wet-spinning technique and characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), single fiber tensile testing machine and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR spectrum of 6FPBO fibers indicated that the fluorine groups had been incorporated into PBO molecular chains successfully. TGA curves revealed that 6FPBO fibers possessed high thermal stability just as pure PBO fibers. Moreover, dielectric constant spectrum of 6FPBO exhibited that the polymers had low dielectric constant, especially in the range of high-frequency. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50673017) and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (Grant No. NCEN-04-0417)