| abstract |
Hydroxy-functional polyethers having a "cardo" diphenylene group in their backbones are prepared by contacting at least one dinucleophilic monomer with at least one diglycidyl ether of a cardo bisphenol, such as bis(hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, phenolphthalein, or phenolphthalimidine or a substituted cardo bisphenol, such as a substituted bis(hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, a substituted phenolphthalein or a substituted phenolphthalimidine, under conditions sufficient to cause the nucleophilic moieties of the dinucleophilic monomer to react with epoxy moieties to form a polymer backbone containing pendant hydroxy moieties and ether, imino, amino, sulfonamido or ester linkages. These polyethers possess a combination of high barrier to oxygen transmission (i.e., oxygen transmission rate less than 10.0 cm3-mil/100 in2-atm-day to oxygen) and high heat resistance (i.e., Tg above 120 DEG C.). These polyethers are suitable for use in the manufacture of retort-sterilizable packaging materials exhibiting high barrier to oxygen. |