NOVEL APPROACHES TO FASIL POLYMERS

FLUORROALKYLARYLENESILOXANYLENE (FASIL) POLYMERS POSSESS EXCELLENT THEMAL STABILITY, LOW EMPERATUE, AND HYDROCARBON SOLVENT RESISTANCE. POLYMERS BASED ON FASIL HAVE EXTENSIVE PROMISE FOR MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS IF THEY COULD BE RELIABLY AND EFFICIENTLY PRODUCED. THE PROGRAM WILL DEVELOP METHODS FOR RELIABLE PREPARATION OF FASILPOLYMERS ON A ROUTINE BASIS. PHASE I WILL EVALUATE THREE POLYMERIZATION TECHNIQUES. THESE WILL INCLUDE HOMOPOLYMERIZATION OF FASIL-DIOL, CONDENSATION OF HETEROFUNCTIONAL FASIL MONOMERS, AND RING OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF CYCLIC FASIL MONOMERS. THE NEAR TERM OBJECTIVE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OPTIMUM FASIL POLYMERIZATION TECHNIQUE SO THAT ITS SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS CAN BE FULLY CARACTERIZED IN A PHASE II R&D PROGRAM.