Resin materials

Claim 2

The composition comprising linear molecules having the repeating structures: ##STR27## wherein: (a) the segment X comprises stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU) and has the structure --A--Z--Ar-- where Ar is substituted or non-substituted benzene rings, optionally annulated with one or more additional benzene rings, and wherein Z represents a gem-bivalent radical having 1 to 2 aromatic hydrocarbon rings and a gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of a ring of 5 carbon atoms, a ring of 6 carbon atoms, one of which carbon atoms may bear an oxo oxygen atom, and a ring of 5 carbon atoms and one oxygen atom, said gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring being fused to said aromatic hydrocarbon rings; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR28## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU8## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU9## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "X" segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein --Z-- is ##STR29##

Claim 4

The composition of claim 1 wherein --Z-- is ##STR30##

Claim 5

The composition of claim 1 wherein X has the structure: ##STR31##

Claim 6

The composition comprising linear molecules having the repeating structures: ##STR32## wherein: X comprises stiff units (SU) and flexible units (FU) and has the structure: ##STR33## and Y has a value of from 0 to 3; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR34## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU10## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU11## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "X" segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 7

The composition comprising linear molecules having the repeating structures: ##STR32## wherein: X comprises stiff units (SU) and flexible units (FU) and has the structure: ##STR33## and Y has a value of from 0 to 3; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR34## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU10## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU11## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "X" segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 8

The novel composition comprising linear molecules having the repeating structures: ##STR35## wherein: (a) "X" contains stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU) which stiff and flexible units are interconnected to form a phthalocyanine radical; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR36## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU12## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU13## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "X" segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 9

The novel composition comprising linear molecules having the repeating structures: ##STR35## wherein: (a) "X" contains stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU) which stiff and flexible units are interconnected to form a phthalocyanine radical; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR36## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU12## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU13## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "X" segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 10

A novel composition comprising lightly crosslinked linear molecules having the repeating structures prior to crosslinking of the formula: ##STR37## where: (a) "X" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU), which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR38## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU14## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU15## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "X" segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU'); and (H) wherein said repeating structures are lightly crosslinked such that between 1 and about 50 repeating structures from different molecules per 100 of said repeating structures are crosslinked together.

Claim 11

A novel composition comprising lightly crosslinked linear molecules having the repeating structures prior to crosslinking of the formula: ##STR37## where: (a) "X" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU), which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR38## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU14## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU15## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "X" segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU'); and (H) wherein said repeating structures are lightly crosslinked such that between 1 and about 50 repeating structures from different molecules per 100 of said repeating structures are crosslinked together.

Claim 12

The composition of claim 7 wherein between 3 and 10 per 100 repeating structures are crosslinked together.

Claim 13

The composition of claim 7 wherein said crosslinking is obtained by addition of an effective amount of a crosslinking agent.

Claim 14

The composition of claim 9 wherein an effective amount of crosslinking agent is employed such that between about 1 and about 50 repeating structures from different molecules per 100 of said repeating structures are crosslinked together during cure.

Claim 15

The composition of claim 7 which further comprises a fibrous reinforcing material.

Claim 16

The composition of claim 10 which further comprises a fibrous reinforcing material.

Claim 17

The composition of claim 11 wherein the fibrous reinforcing material is selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, boron fibers and Kevlar fibers.

Claim 18

The composition of claim 12 wherein the fibrous reinforcing material is selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, boron fibers and Kevlar fibers.

Claim 19

The cured composition of claim 14 having a glass transition temperature of at least about 150° C.

Claim 20

A prepreg comprising the composition of claim 10 and a fibrous reinforcing material.

Claim 21

A prepreg comprising the composition of claim 14.

Claim 22

An article of manufacture prepared from the prepreg of claim 16.

Claim 23

The composition of claim 7 having a glass transition temperature of at least about 150° C., a flex modulus of at least 350 KSI and a fracture toughness of at least 1000 psi √in.

Claim 24

The composition of claim 9 wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of tri- or higher functional epoxides, tri- or higher functional phenolics, tri- or higher functional amines or mixtures thereof.

Claim 25

The composition of claim 7 wherein the average number of total stiff units divided by the average number of total flexible units is greater than 4 and less than about 20.

Claim 26

The composition of claim 21 wherein the average number of total stiff units divided by the average number of total flexible units is between about 5 and about 10.

Claim 27

The composition of claim 7 wherein the ratio of a/(a+b) is more than zero and less than 1.

Claim 28

The composition of claim 23 wherein the ratio of a/(a+b) is between about 0.4 and 0.6.

Claim 29

The composition of claim 7 wherein the ratio of SU/FU>SU'/FU'+0.5.

Claim 30

The composition according to claim 7 wherein the segment X has has the structure Ar--Z--Ar-- where Ar is substituted or non-substituted benzene rings, optionally annulated with one or more additional benzene rings, and wherein Z represents a gem-bivalent radical having 1 to 2 aromatic hydrocarbon rings and a gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of a ring of 5 carbon atoms, a ring of 6 carbon atoms, one of which carbon atoms may bear an oxo oxygen atom, and a ring of 5 carbon atoms and one oxygen atom, said gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring being fused to said aromatic hydrocarbon rings.

Claim 31

The composition of claim 26 wherein --Z-- is ##STR39##

Claim 32

The composition of claim 26 wherein --Z-- is ##STR40##

Claim 33

The composition of claim 26 wherein X has the structure: ##STR41##

Claim 34

The composition of claim 7 wherein X has the structure ##STR42## and "y" has a value of from 0 to 3.

Claim 35

The composition of claim 7 wherein X contains a phthalocyanine radical.

Claim 36

A composition according to claim 7 wherein the segment X is derived from 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene and the segment Y is derived from the digylcidyl ether of bis-phenol-A.

Claim 37

The process for preparing thermoplastic polymers, said process comprising reacting: (a) a first component selected from the group consisting of phenol compounds of the formula HO--X--OH and HO--Y--OH; (b) a second component selected from the group consisting of diepoxide compounds of the structures: ##STR43## wherein n is 0 to 6 and if the phenol compound is HO--X--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III or IV and if the phenol compound is HO--Y--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III: and (c) a catalytic amount of a basic condensation catalyst at an elevated temperature and with a molar ratio of phenol compounds to diepoxides of about 0.90 to about 1.04 until the desired linear reaction product has been formed and thereafter stopping the reaction, wherein in the resulting polymer: (i) the segment X comprises stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU) and has the structure --Ar--Z--Ar-- where Ar is substituted or non-substituted benzene rings, optionally annulated with one or more additional benzene rings, and wherein Z represents a gem-bivalent radical having 1 to 2 aromatic hydrocarbon rings and a gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of a ring of 5 carbon atoms, a ring of 6 carbon atoms one of which carbon atoms may bear an oxo atom, and a ring of 5 carbon atoms and one oxygen atom, said gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring being fused to said aromatic hydrocarbon rings; (ii) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (iii) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings, and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (iv) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR44## (v) the number of X segments in the resulting polymer is "a", the number of Y segments in the resulting polymer is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (vi) the number of stiff units and flexible units are selected such that the average number of total stiff units in the resulting polymer ##EQU16## divided by the average number of total flexible units in the polymer ##EQU17## is greater than four; and (vii) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units of said X segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said Y segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 38

The process for preparing thermoplastic polymers, said process comprising reacting: (a) a first component selected from the group consisting of phenol compounds of the formula HO--X--OH and HO--Y--OH; (b) a second component selected from the group consisting of diepoxide compounds of the structures: ##STR43## wherein n is 0 to 6 and if the phenol compound is HO--X--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III or IV and if the phenol compound is HO--Y--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III: and (c) a catalytic amount of a basic condensation catalyst at an elevated temperature and with a molar ratio of phenol compounds to diepoxides of about 0.90 to about 1.04 until the desired linear reaction product has been formed and thereafter stopping the reaction, wherein in the resulting polymer: (i) the segment X comprises stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU) and has the structure --Ar--Z--Ar-- where Ar is substituted or non-substituted benzene rings, optionally annulated with one or more additional benzene rings, and wherein Z represents a gem-bivalent radical having 1 to 2 aromatic hydrocarbon rings and a gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of a ring of 5 carbon atoms, a ring of 6 carbon atoms one of which carbon atoms may bear an oxo atom, and a ring of 5 carbon atoms and one oxygen atom, said gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring being fused to said aromatic hydrocarbon rings; (ii) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (iii) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings, and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (iv) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR44## (v) the number of X segments in the resulting polymer is "a", the number of Y segments in the resulting polymer is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (vi) the number of stiff units and flexible units are selected such that the average number of total stiff units in the resulting polymer ##EQU16## divided by the average number of total flexible units in the polymer ##EQU17## is greater than four; and (vii) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units of said X segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said Y segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 39

The process of claim 33 wherein --Z-- is ##STR45##

Claim 40

The process of claim 33 wherein --Z-- is ##STR46##

Claim 41

The process of claim 33 wherein X has the structure: ##STR47##

Claim 42

The process of claim 33 wherein said first component is selected from the group consisting of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-indane, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)xanthene, 10,10-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)anthrone, and 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenanthrone; and said second component is a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A.

Claim 43

The process of claim 33 wherein said first component is bisphenol A and said second component is selected from the group consisting of diglycidyl ethers of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-indane, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)xanthene, 10,10-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)anthrone, and 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenanthrone.

Claim 44

The process of claim 33 wherein said first component is selected from the group consisting of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-indane, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)xanthene,

Claim 45

10-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)anthrone, and 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenanthrone; and said second component is selected from the group consisting of diglycidyl ethers of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-indane, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)xanthene, 10,10-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)anthrone, and 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenanthrone.

Claim 46

10-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)anthrone, and 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenanthrone; and said second component is selected from the group consisting of diglycidyl ethers of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-indane, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)xanthene, 10,10-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)anthrone, and 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenanthrone.

Claim 47

The process of claim 37 wherein said first component is 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene.

Claim 48

The process of claim 38 wherein said second component is the diglycidyl ether of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene.

Claim 49

The process of claim 39, wherein said first component is 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene and said second component is the diglycidyl ether of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene.

Claim 50

The process for preparing thermoplastic polymers, said process comprising reacting: (a) a first component selected from the group consisting of phenol compounds of the formula HO--X--OH and HO--Y--OH; (b) a second component selected from the group consisting of diepoxide compounds of the structures: ##STR48## wherein n is 0 to 6 and if the phenol compound is HO--X--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III or IV and if the phenol compound is HO--Y--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III: and (c) a catalytic amount of a basic condensation catalyst at an elevated temperature and with a molar ratio of phenol compounds to diepoxides of about 0.90 to about 1.04 until the desired linear reaction product has been formed and thereafter stopping the reaction, wherein in the resulting polymer: (i) the segment X has the structure ##STR49## and "y" has a value of from 0 to 3; (ii) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible unit (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (iii) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings, and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (iv) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR50## (v) the number of X segments in the resulting polymer is "a", the number of Y segments in the resulting polymer is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (vi) the number of stiff units and flexible units are selected such that the average number of total stiff units in the resulting polymer ##EQU18## divided by the average number of total flexible units in the polymer ##EQU19## is greater than four; and (vii) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said X segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said Y segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 51

The process for preparing thermoplastic polymers, said process comprising reacting: (a) a first component selected from the group consisting of phenol compounds of the formula HO--X--OH and HO--Y--OH; (b) a second component selected from the group consisting of diepoxide compounds of the structures: ##STR48## wherein n is 0 to 6 and if the phenol compound is HO--X--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III or IV and if the phenol compound is HO--Y--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III: and (c) a catalytic amount of a basic condensation catalyst at an elevated temperature and with a molar ratio of phenol compounds to diepoxides of about 0.90 to about 1.04 until the desired linear reaction product has been formed and thereafter stopping the reaction, wherein in the resulting polymer: (i) the segment X has the structure ##STR49## and "y" has a value of from 0 to 3; (ii) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible unit (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (iii) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings, and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (iv) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR50## (v) the number of X segments in the resulting polymer is "a", the number of Y segments in the resulting polymer is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (vi) the number of stiff units and flexible units are selected such that the average number of total stiff units in the resulting polymer ##EQU18## divided by the average number of total flexible units in the polymer ##EQU19## is greater than four; and (vii) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said X segment (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said Y segment (SU'/FU').

Claim 52

A process for preparing lightly crosslinked thermoplastic polymers, said process comprising reacting a first component selected from the group consisting of phenol compounds of the formula HO--X--OH and HO--Y--OH; (a) a first component selected from the group consisting of phenol compounds of the formula HO--X--OH and HO--Y--OH; (b) a second component selected from the group consisting of diepoxide compounds of the structure: ##STR51## wherein n is 0 to 6 and the phenyl compound is HO--X--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III or IV and if the phenol compound is HO--Y--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III; and (c) a catalytic amount of a basic condensation catalyst at an elevated temperature and with a molar ratio of phenol compounds to diepoxides of about 0.90 to about 1.04 until the desired linear reaction product has been formed and thereafter stopping the reaction, wherein the resulting polymer is such that: (a) "X" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU), which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR52## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU20## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU21## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said segment "X" (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU'); and (h) lightly crosslinking the polymer such that between 1 and about 50 repeating structures from different molecules per 100 of said repeating structures of the polymer are crosslinked together during cure.

Claim 53

A process for preparing lightly crosslinked thermoplastic polymers, said process comprising reacting a first component selected from the group consisting of phenol compounds of the formula HO--X--OH and HO--Y--OH; (a) a first component selected from the group consisting of phenol compounds of the formula HO--X--OH and HO--Y--OH; (b) a second component selected from the group consisting of diepoxide compounds of the structure: ##STR51## wherein n is 0 to 6 and the phenyl compound is HO--X--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III or IV and if the phenol compound is HO--Y--OH, then the diepoxide is chosen from the structure of formula III; and (c) a catalytic amount of a basic condensation catalyst at an elevated temperature and with a molar ratio of phenol compounds to diepoxides of about 0.90 to about 1.04 until the desired linear reaction product has been formed and thereafter stopping the reaction, wherein the resulting polymer is such that: (a) "X" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU) and optional flexible units (FU), which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (b) "Y" represents a segment comprising stiff units (SU') and optional flexible units (FU') which stiff units and flexible units are interconnected; (c) said stiff units, SU and SU', are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and non-substituted aromatic rings and non-interfering heterocyclic rings; (d) said flexible units, FU and FU', are independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR52## (e) the number of "X" segments in said molecules is "a", the number of "Y" segments in said molecules is "b", and the ratio of a/(a+b) is greater than zero and less than or equal to one; (f) the number of stiff units and flexible units is selected such that the average number of total stiff units ##EQU20## divided by the average number of total flexible units ##EQU21## is greater than four; and (g) the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said segment "X" (SU/FU) is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of stiff units to flexible units in said "Y" segment (SU'/FU'); and (h) lightly crosslinking the polymer such that between 1 and about 50 repeating structures from different molecules per 100 of said repeating structures of the polymer are crosslinked together during cure.

Claim 54

The process according to claim 44 wherein said crosslinking is obtained by addition of an effective amount of a crosslinking agent.

Claim 55

The process of claim 45 wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of tri- or higher functional epoxides, tri- or higher functional phenolics, tri- or higher functional amines or mixtures thereof.

Claim 56

The process of claim 44 wherein the amount of catalyst employed is not in excess of 0.1 mole per mole of said first component.

Claim 57

The process of claim 44 wherein said first and second components are reacted at a temperature of about 130° C. to about 230° C. for about 1 to about 24 hours.

Claim 58

The process of claim 44 wherein the average number of total stiff units divided by the average number of total flexible units is greater than 4 and less than about 20.

Claim 59

The process of claim 49 wherein the average number of total stiff units divided by the average number of total flexible units is between about 5 and about 10.

Claim 60

The process of claim 44 wherein the ratio of a/(a+b) is more than zero and less than 1.

Claim 61

The composition of claim 51 wherein the ratio of a/(a+b) is between about 0.4 and 0.6.

Claim 62

The process of claim 44 wherein the ratio of SU/FU>SU'/FU'+0.5.

Claim 63

The process according to claim 44 wherein the segment X has the structure --Ar--Z--Ar-- where Ar is substituted or non-substituted benzene rings, optionally annulated with one or more additional benzene rings, and wherein Z represents a gem-bivalent radical having 1 to 2 aromatic hydrocarbon rings and a gem-valent non-aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of a ring of 5 carbon atoms, a ring of 6 carbon atoms, one of which carbon atoms may bear an oxo oxygen atom, and a ring of 5 carbon atoms and one oxygen atom, said gem-bivalent non-aromatic ring being fused to said aromatic hydrocarbon rings.

Claim 64

The process of claim 54 wherein --Z-- is ##STR53##

Claim 65

The process of claim 54 wherein --Z-- is ##STR54##

Claim 66

The composition of claim 54 wherein X has the structure: ##STR55##

Claim 67

The process of claim 44 wherein X has the structure ##STR56## and "y" has a value of from 0 to 3.

Claim 68

A process according to claim 44 wherein the first component is the diglycidyl ether of bis-phenol-A and the second component is 9.9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene.