US 11,840,606 B2
Blocky poly(ether ether ketone) copolymers and corresponding synthesis methods and articles
Kelly D. Branham, Woodstock, GA (US); David B. Roller, Dunwoody Norcross, GA (US); Stéphane Jeol, Cumming, GA (US); Marco Apostolo, Senago (IT); Robert B. Moore, Blacksburg, VA (US); Lindsey Anderson, Blacksburg, VA (US); Samantha Talley, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Xijing Yuan, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS ITALY S.P.A., Bollate (IT); and VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed by SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS ITALY S.P.A., Bollate (IT); and VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/552,192.
Application 17/552,192 is a continuation of application No. 16/340,739, abandoned, previously published as PCT/EP2017/075864, filed on Oct. 10, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/406,634, filed on Oct. 11, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0127419 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. C08G 65/48 (2006.01); C08G 65/40 (2006.01)
CPC C08G 65/485 (2013.01) [C08G 65/4018 (2013.01); C08G 65/4056 (2013.01); C08G 2650/40 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
 
1. A PEEK copolymer gel comprising a blocky PEEK copolymer and a gel solvent that is a non-solvent for the blocky PEEK copolymer and a solvent for trifluoroacetyl sulfate, wherein the blocky PEEK copolymer comprises:
(i) recurring unit (RPEEK) represented by the following formula:

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein
R1 and R2 are independently selected at each instance from the group consisting of a halogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, an aryl, an ether, a thioether, a carboxylic acid, an ester, an amide, an imide, an alkali or an alkaline earth metal sulfonate, an alkyl sulfonate, an alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, an alkyl phosphonate, an amine and a quaternary ammonium;
R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected at each instance from the group consisting of a hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, an aryl, an ether, a thioether, a carboxylic acid, an ester, an amide, an imide, an alkali or an alkaline earth metal sulfonate, an alkyl sulfonate, an alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, an alkyl phosphonate, an amine and a quaternary ammonium;
i and j are independently selected integers from 0 to 4; and
(ii) recurring unit (R*PEEK) represented by the following formula:

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein
i, j, R5, R6 and each R1 and R2 are identical to those selected for recurring unit (RPEEK);
L1 is the same as R3, —SO3M or —Br,
L2 is the same as R4, —SO3M′ or —Br,
M and M′ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Group IA elements and alkali earth metal elements; and
at least one of L1 and L2 is —SO3M or Br,
wherein the PEEK copolymer
has a degree of functionalization of at least about 20%, as measured by 1HNMR spectroscopy and
a degree of crystallinity of at least about 10%, as measured by Differential Scanning calorimetry (“DSC”) using a ramp rate of 10° C./min and heating from a first temperature of 0° C. to 390° C., wherein the PEEK gel has a PEEK concentration of at least 21 w/v % to 40 w/v %.