Abstract: | Glycidyl azide polymers (GAPs), containing different diol units, were prepared by treating the corresponding poly(epichlorohydrin)s (PECHs) with sodium azide in DMF solvent at 110°C for 8–10 h. The poly(epichlorohydrin)s containing different diol units were synthesized by the polymerization of epichlorohydrin using borontrifluoride etherate as initiator in the presence of a small amount of low molecular weight diols. The formation of these PECHs was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. The nature of terminal hydroxyl group present in the polymer chain was confirmed by proton NMR spectroscopy. The structure of GAPs containing different initiating diol units was confirmed by UV, IR, and proton NMR spectral analysis. Thermal properties of the GAPs were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry; the stabilities and glass‐transition temperatures of the GAPs varied according to the initiating diol unit present in the polymer chains. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2157–2163, 2004 |