Synthesis and characterization of new polyamides derived from 1,3-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]adamantane

Several new polyamides were synthesized by direct polycondensation of the 1,3-bis4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]adamantane ( I ) with various dicarboxylic acids. The polyamides had inherent viscosities and number-average molecular weights (M_n) of 0.46–0.96 dL/g and 28,000–109,000, respectively. All polyamides III had good solubilities and were soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and pyridine. Polyamides had tensile strengths of up to 72.3 MPa, elongation to breakage values of up to 10.2%, and initial modulus of up to 2.1 GPa. Their glass transition temperatures were found to be 228–269°C and 252–307°C using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), respectively. The melting temperature of III_f was observed at 318°C using DSC. The temperatures of polyamides III at a 5% weight loss ranged from 395 to 435°C in air and from 400 to 450°C in a N₂ atmosphere. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68:315–321, 1998