Synthesis characterizations and properties of a new fluoro-maleimide polymer

Novel 4-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenoxy N-phenyl-maleimide (FPMI) was synthesized. The free radical-initiated polymerization of FPMI was carried out in 1,4-dioxane solution using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The monomer was investigated by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis, while the polymer was investigated by FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The effect of the monomer concentration, initiator concentration and temperature on the rate of polymerization (Rp) was studied. The activation energy of the polymerization was calculated (ΔE = 48.94 kJ/mol). The molecular weight of PFPMI ( M ¯ w   and   M ¯ n ) and polydispersity index of the polymer were determined by gel permeation chromatography and were equal to 73,500, 16,700 and 2.27, respectively. The properties of PFPMI, including thermal behavior, thermal stability, the glass transition temperature (Tg = 236 °C), photo-stability, solubility and solution viscosity were studied.