Polymers containing metal ions complexed by nitrogen-containing ligands

The feasibility of synthesizing the coordination compound [equation] and using it, as well as the complex [equation] to create polymer systems incorporating these complexes was investigated. These metal-organic complexes were used in epoxy-amine and formaldehyde-amine type polymerizations. The[equation] complex was synthesized according to Maerker's (1957) technique. This produced an impure product that could not be purified by recrystallization. Attempts to synthesize a pure complex by isolating the ligand and then reforming the complex failed because the instability of the complex in weak acids prevented the coordination reaction from occurring in suitable solvents, since the metal salts formed weak acids when dissolved. An unsuccessful attempt was made to synthesize a polymer from the impure[equation] complex and formaldehyde using techniques similar to those employed in the commercial manufacture of amine formaldehyde polymers. An epoxy crosslinking reaction was not attempted because no solvent could be found that would be compatible with both the complex and the epoxy resin. A molding powder synthesized from [equation] and formaldehyde failed to produce a polymer during compression molding because the complex decomposed on heating. An epoxy crosslinking reaction was not attempted. A polymer was synthesized from formaldehyde and 4,4' methylenedianiline using techniques similar to those commercially used in amineformaldehyde polymer manufacture. The polymer was brittle and inhomogeneous. A commercially available instrument used to measure the dynamic mechanical properties of polymers, the Rheovibron manufactured by the Toyo Measuring Instruments Co., was modified. These modifications extended the low temperature measurement limit from slightly below °C to liquid nitrogen temperatures. This instrument was then used to measure the dynamic mechanical properties of the 4,4' methylenedianilineformaldehyde polymer mentioned above and a polymer synthesized from 4,4' methylenedianiline and Epon 828, an epoxy resin made by the Shell Chemical Co. Measurements were taken over a temperature range of -17°C to +4°C