| Abstract: | A series of six new aromatic polyamides with side oxadiazole rings has been synthesized by polycondensation reaction of aromatic diamines containing pendent substituted oxadiazole groups with a silicon‐containing diacid chloride [namely, bis(p‐chlorocarbonyl‐phenylene)diphenylsilane] or with a fluorine‐containing diacid chloride [namely, hexafluoroisopropylidene‐bis(p‐benzoyl chloride)]. All polymers were easily soluble in amidic solvents, such as N‐methylpyrrolidinone and dimethylformamide, and gave thin transparent films by casting such solutions. Very thin coatings were deposited onto silicon wafers and exhibited smooth, pinhole‐free surfaces in atomic force microscopy investigations. The polymers showed high thermal stability, with decomposition temperature >400°C. Some of them did exhibit a glass transition, in the range 152–276°C, with a reasonable interval between glass transition and decomposition. Four of these polymers showed blue photoluminescence, in the range 460–480 nm, which makes them promising candidates for future use as high‐performance materials in the construction of light‐emitting devices. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 714–721, 2003 |
