Elastomers Based on Polycyclic Bisphenol Polycarbonates
Abstract Polycarbonate elastomers were prepared by the addition of phosgene to a pyridine solution of poly (tetramethylene ether) glycol and bisphenols containing norbornane-type groups. These elastomers do not contain the classical “tie-down” points—crosslinks, hydrogen bonding, or crystallinity—which, heretofore, have been considered necessary for good elastomer properties. This work introduces a new concept in elastomer chemistry : bulky, three-dimensional groups are effective tie-down points. Most of the elastomers were prepared with 4,4′- (2-norbornylidene) bis(2,6-dichlorophenol). For comparison, several elastomers with bisphenol-A were also prepared. A statistically designed experiment was carried out to determine the effect of composition variables on the properties of these elastomers. The properties were determined on films cast from methylene chloride and, in many cases, on wet-spun fibers. These elastomers have elongations of 400–600 per cent and instantaneous elastic recoveries up to 100.