AbstractPolymers and copolymers were prepared from the acetoxy derivatives ofm‐ andp‐hydroxybenzoic acids. Molecular weights of over 20,000 were obtained for poly(m‐hydroxybenzoic acid) and copolymers containing up to 60paraisomer. These polyesters were crystalline, and the degree of crystallinity increased as theparaisomer content was increased. Blocks of the high‐melting, insoluble poly(p‐hydroxybenzoic acid) tend to form in copolymers containing a high proportion of theparaisomer because of the difference in reactivity of the two isomers. Copolymers containing at least 55 of themetaisomer are soluble in several classes of solvents. The copolymers do not have sharply defined melting points, but have softening temperatures ranging from 150°C. to over 300°C. Tensile strengths of approximately 10,000 psi and elongations of about 6 to 40 were obtained. The polymers were relatively stable to oxidative degradation, but not to
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