Synthesis of poly(arylene benzimidazole) sulfone (PABIS) and preparation of hollow PABIS microspheres

4,4'-Di(benzimidazolyl)benzene sulfone, as the monomer, is very readily available by the reaction of 4,4'-dicarboxydiphenyl sulfone with o-phenylenediamine, and poly(arylene benzimidazole) sulfone (PABIS) has been synthesized by the condensation polymerization of bis(4-fluorophenyl) sulfone with di(benzimidazolyl)benzene sulfone via an N-C coupling reaction. The structure of the polymer was characterized by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, H-1 NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and the results showed agreement with the proposed structure.DSC and thermogravimetric measurements showed that PABIS possesses a high glass transition temperature (T-g=321 degrees C) and good thermal stability with high decomposition temperature (T-d>530 degrees C). Additionally, PABIS exhibits good solubility in most polar organic solvents. Based on the good chemical and physical properties, hollow PABIS microspheres with diameters in the range 0.3-1.8mm were prepared by the micro-liquid technique and the double-layer latex technique. A new double T-channel droplet generator was developed for continuous fabrication of controlled-size hollow PABIS microspheres. The structures of the hollow PABIS microspheres were characterized, and they possessed equal wall thickness and good spherical symmetry. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry