Preparation of novel pyridine‐based,thermally stable poly(ether imide)s

Two aromatic, pyridine‐based ether diamines were prepared by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of 4‐aminophenol and 5‐amino‐1‐naphthol with 2,6‐dichloropyridine in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as a solvent. Polycondensation reactions of the obtained diamines with pyromellitic dianhydride, benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, and hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride resulted in six pyridine‐based, thermally stable poly(ether imide)s. The prepared monomers and polymers were characterized by common spectroscopic methods. The physical and thermal properties of the polymers, including the thermal behavior, thermal stability, solubility, and solution viscosity, were studied. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 22–26, 2004     

Preparation and performance of crosslinked poly(arylene ether)s containing azobenzene chromophores

A series of novel poly(arylene ether)s with crosslinked groups and different azobenzene chromophores contents (azo-CPAEs: PAE-allyl20%-azo20%, PAE-allyl20%-azo40%, PAE-allyl20%-azo60%) were synthesized from a new bisfluoro monomer, (2,6-difluorophenyl)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone. Their chemical structures were characterized by means of UV-vis and FI-IR. The thermal properties of the polymers were investigated by TGA and DSC, indicating the polymers had high glass transition temperatures (T_g > 147 °C) and good thermal stability (T_d5 > 360 °C) even when the contents of azobenzene chromophores was high to 60%. And the influence of thermal crosslinking on the performance of PAE-allyl20%-azo20%, a typical one of the series, was investigated. T_g of PAE-allyl20%-azo20% increased with the increase of heating time when heat-treated at 250 °C for 20, 40 and 60 min, indicating the crosslink degree of the polymer increased. After heat-treated for 60 min, T_g of PAE-allyl20%-azo20% increased to 175 °C from 147 °C before thermal crosslinking. Upon irradiation with a 532 nm neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser beam, the remnant value of the polymer PAE-allyl20%-azo20% before and after the thermal crosslinking were 81 and 96%, respectively, meaning that the PAE-allyl20%-azo20% after thermal crosslink showed more stable photoinduced alignment than that before thermal crosslinking.     

Thermally stable and organosoluble cardo binaphthylene based poly(amide imide)s and poly(ester imide)s

A new imide‐containing dicarboxylic acid based on a twisted binaphthylene unit, 2,2′‐bis(N‐trimellitoyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (1), was synthesized from 1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diamine and trimellitic anhydride in glacial acetic acid. The structure of compound 1 was fully characterized with spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. Series of thermally stable and organosoluble poly(amide imide)s (4a–4d) and poly(ester imide)s (5a–5d) with similar backbones were prepared by the triphenyl phosphite and diphenylchlorophosphate activated direct polycondensation of diimide dicarboxylic acid 1 with various aromatic diamines and diols, respectively. With due attention to the structural similarity of the resulting poly(amide imide)s and poly(ester imide)s, most of the differences between these two block copolyimides could be easily attributed to the presence of alternate amide or ester linkages accompanied by imide groups in the polymer backbone. The ultraviolet maximum wavelength values of the yellowish polymers were determined from their ultraviolet spectra. The crystallinity of these copolyimides was estimated by means of wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and the resultant polymers exhibited a nearly amorphous nature, except for the polymers derived from benzidine and 4,4′‐binaphthol. The poly(amide imide)s exhibited excellent solubility in a variety of highly polar aprotic solvents, whereas the poly(ester imide)s showed good solubility in less polar solvents. According to differential scanning calorimetry analyses, polymers 4a–4d and 5a–5d had glass‐transition temperatures between 331 and 357°C and between 318 and 342°C, respectively. The thermal behaviors of the obtained polymers were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, and the 10% weight loss temperatures of the poly(amide imide)s and poly(ester imide)s were between 579 and 604°C and between 566 and 577°C in nitrogen, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3203–3211, 2006     

Secondary dopants modified PEDOT‐sulfonated poly(imide)s for high‐temperature range application

Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was polymerized using sulfonated poly(amic acid)s templates (SPAA1 and SPAA2) by batch operation. The new method was invented to enhance conductivities (ca. 100 ‐ to 2000‐fold) and with less reaction time from previous work (7 days vs. 3 days). Moreover, to increase the conductivity, many dopants were introduced as secondary doping compared with DMF, D ‐sorbitol, and surfynol that were previously used. After annealing at 180°C for 10 min, PEDOT‐SPAA1 and PEDOT‐SPAA2 doped with benzo‐1,4‐dioxan and quinoxaline showed the increase in conductivity by higher percentage than any other systems, especially doped with D ‐sorbitol and surfynol. These showed the promising tendency to develop the annealing activated superior conductivity materials after further modifying the conducting film forming processes. However, PEDOT‐SPAAs doped with benzo‐1,4‐dioxan, imidazole and quinoxaline via annealed at 180°C for 10 min were found to be more conductive than doped with DMF, but still lower conductive than doped with D ‐sorbitol and surfynol. In terms of particle size, the stable aqueous dispersions of conducting polymers prepared were comparable to polystyrene sulfonate template. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Novel thermally stable poly(ether imide ester)s from 2,6‐bis (4‐aminophenoxy) pyridine

2,6‐Bis (4‐aminophenoxy) pyridine was prepared via reaction of 4‐aminophenol with 2,6‐dichloropyridine in the presence of potassium carbonate in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP). This pyridine‐based ether diamine was reacted with two moles of trimellitic anhydride to synthesize related diimide‐diacid (DIDA). A high temperature solution polycondensation reaction of DIDA with different diols in the presence of triethylamine hydrochloride in dichlorobenzene resulted in different poly(ether imide ester)s. The monomer and polymers were fully characterized, and the physical and thermal properties of the polymers were studied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 570–576, 2005     

Influence of azobenzene units on imidization kinetic of novel poly(ester amic acid)s and polymers properties before and after cyclodehydration

In this article, the imidization reaction kinetic of novel poly(ester amic acid)s with azobenzene units as side groups was studied by dynamic experiments by means of differential scanning calorimetry. Polymers differ in the number of chromophore moieties in their repeating unit and position in which azobenzene group is attached to the polymer chain. The kinetic parameters of poly(ester amic acid)s conversion to poly(ester imide)s was compared with data calculated for parent polymer, that is, without azobenzene groups. For the first time to our knowledge, the imidization kinetic of polymers with side azobenzene groups was studied. Kinetic parameters, such as the activation energy and frequency factor were estimated with the by Ozawa model [(E(O) and A(O)), respectively] and Kissinger model [(E(K) and A(K), respectively]. The values of activation energy determined with both models were in the range 167.1–198.3 kJ/mol. The lowest activation energy of imidization reaction exhibited polymer in which azobenzene units were placed between amide linkages. Polymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, X‐ray, and UV–vis methods. The glass transition temperature of resultant poly(ester imide)s was in the range of 217–237°C. The presence of chromophore units slightly decreased T_g and significantly improved their solubility and optical properties. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and properties of novel poly(coumarin‐amide)s

A novel monomer diacid, 6,6′‐methylenebis(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromene‐3‐carboxylic acid), was synthesized and used in a direct polycondensation reaction with various aromatic diamines in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone solution containing dissolved LiCl and CaCl₂, using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents to give a series of novel heteroaromatic polyamides containing photosensitive coumarin groups in the main chain. Polyamide properties were investigated by DSC, TGA, GPC, wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, viscosity, and solubility measurements. The copolymers were soluble in aprotic polar solvents, and their inherent viscosities varied between 0.49 and 0.78 dL g^?1. The weight‐average and number‐average molecular weights, measured by gel permeation chromatography, were 27,500–43,900 g mol^?1 and 46,500–66,300 g mol^?1, respectively, and polydispersities in the range of 1.48–1.69. The aromatic polyamides showed glass‐transition temperatures (T_g) ranging from 283 to 329°C and good thermal properties evidenced by no significant weight loss up to 380°C and 10% weight loss recorded above 425°C in air. All the polyamides exhibited an amorphous nature as evidenced by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and demonstrated a film forming capability. Water uptake values up to 3.35% were observed at 65% relative humidity. These polymers exhibited strong UV‐vis absorption maxima at 357–369 nm in DMSO solution, and no discernible photoluminescence maxima were detected by exciting with 365 nm. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and properties of sulfonated poly(siloxane imide)s bearing dimethyl siloxane oligomers for fuel cell applications

A series of sulfonated poly(siloxane imide)s (SPSIs) were synthesized from 4,4′‐ketone dinaphthalene 1,1′,8,8′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (KDNTDA), a dimethyl siloxane oligomer‐based diamine, and a sulfonated diamine. The reduced viscosities ranged from 1.0 to 3.5 dL/g at 35°C in the triethylamine (TEA) salt form. The SPSIs showed anisotropic membrane swelling with larger swelling in thickness than in plane. They displayed reasonably high proton conductivity, thermal stability and good mechanical properties. The KDNTDA‐based SPSIs showed good solubility in common aprotic solvents not only in TEA salt form but also in proton form. The ¹H‐NMR results indicated that the molar content of the dimethyl siloxane oligomer in the SPSIs was 50–80% of that in the feed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Synthesis and properties of novel poly(benzimidazopyrrolone amide)s containing pyridine moieties

A series of new poly(benzimidazopyrrolone amide) (PPA) copolymers were synthesized by a two‐step procedure, which was the solution polycondensation of a novel pyridine‐containing tetraamine with various aromatic dianhydrides at a room temperature and cyclization of the resulting prepolymers at a high temperature, respectively. The resulting prepolymers from the solution polycondensation, that is, poly(amide amino acid)s (PAAAs), had inherent viscosities of 0.82–0.91 dL/g; then, tough and flexible PPA films could be successfully prepared by the casting of the PAAA solutions onto a glass substrate followed by thermal curing with a program temperature procedure up to 350°C. The obtained PPA films exhibited not only excellent thermal properties with onset decomposition temperatures in the range 502–521°C, glass‐transition temperatures in the range 299–337°C, and residual weight retentions at 700°C in air of 29.1–34.8% but also good mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 102.1–115.9 MPa and elongations at break of 6.8–7.4%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Polyimides 7: Synthesis,characterization, and properties of novel soluble semifluorinated poly(ether imide)s

Three novel diamine monomers ( VI , VII , and VIII ) were synthesized. These diamine monomers lead to a number of semifluorinated poly(ether imide)s when reacted with different commercially available dianhydrides like pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA), 2,2‐bis (3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropene (6FDA), and oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODA) by thermal imidization route. Elemental analyses, IR and NMR techniques were used to characterize the monomers and polymers. The resulting polymers exhibited weight average molar masses up to 1.78 × 10⁵ g mol^?1 in GPC with respect to polystyrene standard and have very good solubility in several organic solvents such as NMP, DMF, DMAC, DMSO, chloroform, and THF. Very good solubility of these polymers in CDCl₃ enables their complete characterization by proton as well as ¹³C‐NMR techniques. The polymers showed very high thermal stability with decomposition temperature (5% weight loss) up to 511°C in air and high glass transition temperature up to 311°C depending upon the exact repeating unit structure. The polymer films showed high modulus (up to 2.9 GPa) as was evaluated by DMA. The polymers also showed very low water absorption (0.16%), low dielectric constant (2.35 at 1MHz) and very good optical transmission. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3025–3044, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of novel anti-inflammatory poly(spiro thiazolidinone)s

A new series of spirothiazolidinone polymers has been accomplished by solution polycondensation of 4,12-dioxa-1,9-dithiadispiro[4.2.4.2]tetradecane-3,11-dione (3) with different aliphatic and aromatic diamines. A model compound 4 was prepared by the reaction of spiro-monomer 3 with benzyl amine and was characterized by elemental and spectral analyses. These polymers were characterized by elemental and spectral analyses. The thermal properties of these polymers were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis measurements. The morphological properties of selected polymers 5c and 5e were tested using scanning electron microscope to study their surface morphology. The molar masses of polymers 5a, 5b, and 5d were determined by gel permeation chromatography. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activities were studied for these spiro-polymers in comparison with the model compound by determination in vivo using acute carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.     

Novel trifluoromethyl‐containing poly(amide–imide)s: Organosolubility,optical behavior,thermostability, and crystallinity

A new dicarboxylic acid monomer, 2,6‐bis(1,3‐dioxo‐5‐carboxyisoindolin‐2‐yl)‐4,4′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)‐1,1′‐diphenyl ether (IFDPE), bearing two preformed imide rings was synthesized via a three‐step manner from 4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenol and 4‐chloro‐3,5‐dinitrobenzotrifluoride. The monomer IFDPE was then used to prepare a series of novel trifluoromethyl‐containing poly(amide–imide)s via a direct phosphorylation polycondensation with various aromatic diamines. The intrinsic viscosities of the polymers were found to be in the range 0.86–1.02 d/g. The weight‐ and number‐average molecular weights of the resulting polymers were determined with gel permeation chromatography. The polymeric samples were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents and formed low‐color, flexible thin films via solution casting. The values of the absorption edge wavelength were determined by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and all of the resulting poly (amide–imide)s films exhibited high optical transparency. The resulting polymers showed moderately high glass‐transition temperatures in the range 295–324°C and had 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 524°C in nitrogen. The crystallinity extents were qualitatively investigated with wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction measurements. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed an agglomerated bulk with nonuniformity on the surface. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Influence of the monomer feeding sequence on the structure and properties of thermotropic liquid‐crystalline poly(ester imide)s

A series of poly(ester imide)s mainly derived from N,N′‐hexane‐1,6‐diylbistrimellitimides, 4,4′‐dihydroxybenzophenone, and p‐hydroxybenzoic acid were synthesized by a direct polycondensation method in benzenesulfonyl chloride, N,N′‐dimethylformamide, and pyridine with different monomer feeding sequences. The molecular structures and properties of the resultant poly(ester imide)s were characterized with NMR, IR spectrometry, polarized light microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the monomer feeding sequences had a great effect on the sequential structure of the molecular chains of the copolymers and consequently on their liquid‐crystalline (LC) properties, fiber‐forming capability, and other properties. Thus, it is probable that one could obtain an LC poly(ester imide) with given properties by controlling the monomer feeding sequence during the polycondensation process. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Post polymerisation hypercrosslinking of styrene/divinylbenzene poly(HIPE)s: Creating micropores within macroporous polymer

Porous copolymers of styrene and divinylbenzene (DVB) were prepared by emulsion templating using high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) as precursors for monoliths. The ratio of monomers was varied in order to obtain samples with different degrees of crosslinking and different amounts of unreacted vinyl groups originating from DVB. PolyHIPE monoliths were subjected to reswelling and treatment with a radical initiator. Significant enlargement of the amount of meso- and micropores in the material was found resulting in a substantial increase of BET surface area, up to 7.2 times compared to untreated polyHIPEs. The treated PolyHIPE monoliths retained the open macroporous morphology typical of polyHIPE materials. Solid state ¹³C NMR experiments were used to determine the amount of unreacted vinyl groups in polyHIPE samples, both before and after the hypercrosslinking treatment.     

Architectural effect of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(amide imide) block copolymers on dispersion of carbon nanotubes in water

The dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in water by poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(amide imide) (PAI) block copolymers and homo‐PAA is investigated. Poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐poly(amide imide) (PAA‐block‐PAI), poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐poly(amide imide)‐block‐poly(acrylic acid) (PAA‐block‐PAI‐block‐PAA), and heteroarm star block copolymer poly(acrylic acid)₂poly(amide imide) (PAA₂PAI) with similar molecular weights and PAA contents are used as the copolymers. The dispersion of CNTs is observed by dynamic light scattering and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy. The presence of the hydrophobic sequence improves the dispersion. PAA₂PAI has the best dispersion ability, followed in order by PAA‐block‐PAI‐block‐PAA, PAA‐block‐PAI, and homo‐PAA. In the dry state, aggregates of CNT are observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the mixture with PAA‐block‐PAI and homo‐PAA. The adhesion of the copolymers to CNT is also observed by TEM and is due to the high affinity between hydrophobic PAI and CNT. In particular, PAA₂PAI and PAA‐block‐PAI‐block‐PAA well cover the CNTs. The presence of PAI and the PAA location are important for the dispersion of CNTs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43461.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel optically active poly(amide‐imide)s

4,4′‐(Hexafluoroisopropylidene)‐bis‐(phthalic anhydride) (1) was reacted with L ‐leucine (2) in toluene solution at refluxing temperature in the presence of triethylamine and the resulting imide‐acid (4) was obtained in quantitative yield. The compound (4) was converted to the diacid chloride (5) by reaction with thionyl chloride. The polymerization reaction of the imide‐acid chloride (5) with 1,6‐hexamethylenediamine (6a) , benzidine (6b) , 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (6c) , 1,5‐diaminoanthraquinone (6d) , 4,4′‐sulfonyldianiline (6e) , 3,3′‐diaminobenzophenone (6f) , p‐phenylenediamine (6g) and 2,6‐diaminopyridine (6h) was carried out in chloroform/DMAc solution. The resulting poly(amide‐imide)s were obtained in high yield and are optically active and thermally stable. All of the above compounds were fully characterized by IR, elemental analyses and specific rotation. Some structural characterization and physical properties of those optically active poly(amide‐imide)s are reported. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel chiral nanostructured poly(esterimide)s containing different natural amino acids and 4,4′‐thiobis(2‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methylphenol) linkages

Pyromellitic dianhydride (benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride) (1) was reacted with several amino acids in acetic acid and the resulting imide‐acid [N,N′‐(pyromellitoyl)‐bis‐L ‐amino acid diacid] (4a–4d) was obtained in high yield. The direct polycondensation reaction of these diacids with 4,4′‐thiobis(2‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methylphenol) (5) was carried out in a system of tosyl chloride(TsCl), pyridine, and N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF) to give a series of novel optically active poly(esterimide)s. Step‐growth polymerization was carried out by varying the time of heating and the molar ratio of TsCl/diacid, and the optimum conditions were achieved. These new chiral polymers were characterized with respect to chemical structure and purity by means of specific rotation experiments, FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, X‐ray diffraction, elemental, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) techniques. These polymers are readily soluble in many polar organic solvents like DMF, N,N‐dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, and protic solvents such as sulfuric acid. TGA showed that the 10% weight loss temperature in a nitrogen atmosphere was more than 390°C; therefore, these new chiral polymers have useful levels of thermal stability associated with good solubility. Furthermore, study of the surface morphology of the obtained polymers by FE‐SEM showed that each polymers exhibit nanostructure morphology. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Post sulfonation of bisphenol A poly(arylene ethers)

In this study, bisphenol A polyetherimide (PEI) was sulfonated by a novel postsulfonation route using trimethylsilylchlorosulfonate. Different degrees of sulfonation were achieved by varying the mole ratio of the sulfonating agent to the PEI repeat unit and the reaction time. Comparison was made with respect to bisphenol A polysulfone (PSU) to study the influence of electron withdrawing group in the sulfonated poly(arylene ethers) (SPAE) backbone on sulfonation. Structural characterization of SPAE was conducted by ¹H‐NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The enhanced reaction rate with PSU compared to PEI was attributed to the deactivation of bisphenol A unit due to the stronger electron withdrawing effect of imide group. The sulfonation of PEI was also carried out with chlorosulfonic acid for comparative study. The effects of degree of sulfonation on thermal and mechanical properties of SPAE‐s were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a tensile testing machine. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis of isomeric bis(amine anhydride)s for novel poly(amine imide)s by Pd-catalyzed amination of 4-chlorophthalic anhydride

Two novel bis(amine anhydride) monomers, N,N′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,4-phenylenediamine dianhydride I and N,N′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,3-phenylenediamine dianhydride II, were prepared via palladium-catalyzed amination reaction of 4-chloro-N-methylphthalimide with 1,4-phenylenediamine or 1,3-phenylenediamine, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(amine imide)s and subsequent dehydration of the resulting tetraacids. A series of new poly(amine imide)s were prepared from the synthesized dianhydride monomers with various diamines in NMP via conventional two-step method. FT-IR spectra of the poly(amine imide)s revealed that in the solid state, intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding (N-H?OC) are present. These polymers had glass transition temperatures in the range of 250-295 °C. The 10% weight loss temperature of the resulting poly(amine imide)s ranged from 539 to 560 °C in nitrogen. The poly(amine imide)s have the peel strength values ranging from 283 to 358 N/m. The poly(amine imide)s films were found to be transparent, flexible, and tough. The films had a tensile strength, elongation at break, and tensile modulus in the ranges 102-152 MPa, 11.3-19.6%, and 1.04-2.08 GPa, respectively.     

Biobased poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) and poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)s: From synthesis using highly purified 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid to thermo-mechanical properties

To synthesize high quality (co)polyesters derived from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FA), an acetic acid refluxing/pH-swing method was proposed to purify FA. 2-Carboxyl furfural and other impurities were removed completely from FA with this method. Using highly purified FA, biobased polyester poly(butylene furnadicarboxylate) (PBF) and aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene 2,5-furandicarboxy-late)s (PBAFs) were synthesized via melt (co)polycondensation. The (co)polyesters were characterized with GPC, FTIR, ¹H NMR, DSC and TGA, and their tensile mechanical properties were also assessed. The copolyesters possess random chain structure, monomer feed ratio-controlled copolymer composition and excellent thermal stability (T_d,5% > 340 °C) in full composition range. Both BA-rich and BF-rich PBAFs are crystalline polymers. The crystallizability decreases with composition, up to nearly amorphous at moderate ?_BF (40–60%). PBAFs with ?_BF no more than 50% exhibit obvious high-elastic deformation and rebound resilience, and possess tensile properties (E 18–160 MPa, σ_b 9–17 MPa, ε_b 370–910%) comparable to poly(butylene adipate). PBAFs with higher ?_BF behave like nonrigid plastics with low tensile moduli (42–110 MPa), moderate strength (30–42 MPa) and high elongation at break (310–470%). In comparison, PBF is a strong and tough thermoplastic having balanced mechanical properties, namely, much higher tensile modulus (1.9 GPa) and strength (56 MPa) and high elongation at break (260%). It seems necessary and effective to use highly purified FA for synthesizing high performance FA-derived (co)polyesters.