EP0667876A1

EP0667876A1 - Anisotropic polymers and method of producing them

Info

Publication number: EP0667876A1
Application number: EP94927574A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Werner Mormann; Christoph Irle
Original assignee: Europaische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (ewg)
Current assignee: Europaische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (ewg)
Priority date: 1993-09-08
Filing date: 1994-09-07
Publication date: 1995-08-23
Also published as: GR960300004T1; CA2148936A1; JPH07508797A; LU88405A1; WO1995007308A1; ES2079335T1; CA2148936C; US5569727A

Abstract

Described are anisotropic polymers produced from a diepoxide A of the formula (I) in which: Y is O-CY2, CH2 or a C-C single bond; X is one of structural elements (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f); R1 to R5, independently or each other, are hydrogen, halogen or a methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl group; or R2, R3, R4 or R5 may be a benzene group, whereby R2 to R5 is hydrogen when R1 is not hydrogen and R1 is hydrogen when R2 to R5 are not hydrogen, and n may be 1 to 3; whereby the central grouping Z may be an aromatic heterocyclic ring containing one or two nitrogen atoms or a cycloaliphatic trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, and from a diisocyanate B of one of the formulae (II) to (VII) in which: Y is a C-C single bond, CH2 or C2H4; X is one of structural elements (a), (b), (c) or (f), n is 0 or 1 and R1 to R5 are the atoms or groups given in the definition of formula (I); whereby the central grouping Z may also be a cycloaliphatic trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, and R is (CH2)6-NCO, the molar ratio of diepoxide A to diisocyanate B being about 2:1 to 1:4. Also described is a method for the production of such anisotropic polymers, in which the diepoxide A and the diisocyanate B are reacted at a temperature of about 100 to 300 °C at a molar ratio of about 2:1 to 1:4. These anisotropic polymers have a low coefficient of thermal expansion in the direction of orientation of the molecules and can be used in the manufacture of insulation materials, laminates and coatings.

Description

Anisotropic polymers and a process for their production

The invention relates to anisotropic polymers of liquid-crystalline diepoxide and liquid-crystalline diisocyanate and a process for the preparation of these anisotropic polymers, optionally in the presence of catalysts, further comonomers and other customary additives.

Reaction products of bifunctional isocyanates and epoxides are known.

These are usually referred to as poly (isocyanurate oxazolidinones). It is also known that cyclotrimerization of the isocyanates initially results in isocyanurate units which react only at elevated temperature with epoxy groups to form the 5-membered oxazolidinone heterocycle.

EP-A-0 252 359 describes the reaction of 4,4'-diisocyanatophenyl benzoate with the 4'-epoxypropoxybenzoic acid 4'-epoxypropoxyphenyl ester. The reaction product is opaque. It has no textures of liquid crystalline phases and only contains reaction products that have crystallized out. In the EP-A-

0 252 359 it is pointed out that anisotropic polymers are formed by the reaction of different monomers only if the reaction temperature is within the liquid-crystalline range of the starting materials.

Diepoxides with mesogenic properties are used in different

Publications described. It is known that mesogenic diepoxides lead to polymers with optical anisotropy in the reaction with various reactants, but also in the homopolymerization. Japanese Patents 63-10617 (1988) and 58-206579 (1983) describe the synthesis of various triaromatic bisazomethine diglycidyl ethers and esters.

In "Synthesis, Characterization and Theory of Polymeric Networks and Gels", Ed. S, M. Ahorni, Plenum Press, New York, 1992, p. 147, the representation of Described polyepoxide networks from mesogenic diepoxides which have liquid crystalline properties. The diaromatic and triaromatic diepoxides used have wide lc phases. Diisocyanates with liquid-crystalline properties are also known (for example: Mormann, W., Brahm, M., Polymer 43, 187, (1993). Cyclotrimers of mesogenic, diaromatic monoisocyanates have very weak Ic properties compared to the monomeric starting materials The liquid crystalline character is usually lost during the cyclotrimerization reaction.

The object of the invention is to propose a combination of diisocyanates and diepoxides, the implementation of which always provides an anisotropic polymer, and a method which is particularly suitable for producing these anisotropic polymers.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by anisotropic polymers of diepoxide A of the formula (I)

e.g.

in which mean:

Y 0-CH ₂ CH ₂ or a CC single bond,

X the structural elements

R ₁ to Rs, independently of one another, are hydrogen, halogen, a methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl radical or R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ or R5 is a benzene radical,

R ₂ to R5 are hydrogen if Ri is not hydrogen,

R _{l is} hydrogen if R ₂ to R5 are not hydrogen, and n 1 to 3, the middle group Z also being a heteroaromatic ring with one or two hetero nitrogen atoms or a cycloaliphatic fπ-ns-l, 4-cyclohexylene

Rest can be

and from diisocyanate B of formulas (II) to (VII)

PS

OCN.

NCO (V)

in which mean:

Y is a CC single bond, CH ₂ or C ₂ H ₄₇

X the structural elements

n 0 or 1 and

R _l to R5 are the atoms or compounds specified in connection with the formula (I)

Radicals, R (CH ₂ ) ₆ -NCO, where the middle group Z can also be a cycloaliphatic frtms-1,4-cyclohexylene radical.

The compounds represented by the formulas (I) to (VII) are designated as follows: frt -? - s-l, 4-diisocyanatocyclohexane, methylene-bis- (4-isocyanatobenzene)

(MDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), HDI biuret: (bis- (6-isocyanatohexylaminocarbonyl) - (6-isocyanatohexyl) amine) and tris (6-isocyanatohexyl) isocyanurate: (l, 3, 5-tris (6-isocyanatohexyl) -2,4,6-trioxo-hexahydro-l, 3,5-triazine). The other monomers represented above in terms of formulas and also their preparation are, inter alia, described in: Mormann, W., Brahm, M., Polymer 43, 187-

194 (1993)., Mormann, W., Brahm, M., Macromolecules 24, 1096-1101 (1991) and Mikroyannidis, J.A., Makromol. Chem. 190, 1867-1879 (1989).

In the event that the anisotropic polymers according to the invention have halogen substituents, these are preferably fluorine, chlorine and bromine.

The mentioned molar ratio of diepoxide A to diisocyanate B in the anisotropic polymer according to the invention is essential for the desired success. If the ratio falls below 2: 1, this can lead to an unfavorably low crosslinking density. If the value of about 1: 4 is exceeded, this means that the disadvantageous properties of the isocyanurate structures predominate (crystallization, loss of the lc properties). It is particularly advantageous if the molar ratio of diepoxide A to diisocyanate B is about 1: 1 to 1: 1.5. The optimum value n in the formulas (I) and (II), in each case independently of one another, is 1. Advantages are achieved if Z in the formula (I) is a heteroaromatic ring having 1 or 2 hetero nitrogen atoms in the form of a pyridine or pyrimidine Radical or a cycloaliphatic frflns-1,4-cyclohexylene radical in the form of an fτ..πs-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid radical.

The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the anisotropic polymers of the type described above, optionally in the presence of Catalysts, other comonomers and other conventional additives, which is characterized in that the liquid-crystalline diepoxide A of the formula (I) and the liquid-crystalline diisocyanate B, selected from the group consisting of the diisocyanates (II) to (VII), at a temperature of about 100 to 300 ° C in a molar ratio of about 2: 1 to 1: 4 are implemented. The importance of

Molar ratio of about 2: 1 to 1: 4 has already been explained above. The temperature range of approximately 100 to 300 ° C should be maintained for the following reasons. The lower temperature limit is determined by the fact that the monomers melt homogeneously. Temperatures that are too low undesirably prevent the formation of the oxazolidinone ring. Exceeding the maximum temperature of 300 ° C would bring no advantage. The temperature range from approximately 150 to 220 ° C. is preferred

It is regularly advantageous to carry out the reaction in the presence of a catalyst. The preferred catalysts are: tertiary amines (D.

Braun, J. Weinert, Angew. Macromol. Chem. 78, 1 (1979).), Blocked isocyanates

(D. Caille, J.P. Pascault, L. Tighzert, Polym. Bull. 24, 31 (1990).),

Organoantimony compounds (M. Fujiwara et al, J. Heterocycl. Chem. 25, 1351

(1988).), Tetraalkylammonium bromides and iodides (D. Braun, J. Weinert, Angew. Makromol. Chem. 78, 1 (1979).), Alkanolates (D. Braun, J. Weinert, Liebigs Ann.

Chem. 1976, 221), 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole (M. Uribe, K.A. Hodd, Thermochim.

Acta 77, 367 (1984).), Lewis acid-base complexes: e.g. B. K. Ashida, Eur. J. Cell.

Plastic. 3 (4), 122 (1980) and A1C13 triphenylphosphine oxide (e.g. A. Sendijarevic,

K.C. Frisch, J. Polym. Science Part C 28, 199 (1990)). The amount of catalyst is not critical. The catalyst is expediently added in an amount of approximately

0.01 to 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the reactive

Components of the starting mixture used.

In individual cases it can be advantageous to subject the anisotropic polymer obtained to post-curing. The procedure is expediently such that curing is carried out, for example, at 150 ° C. for two hours, at 200 ° C. for one hour and at 250 ° C. for one hour.

To modify the properties of the anisotropic polymer, in particular to optimize the lc properties, the melting point of the monomer mixture, the solubility behavior of intermediates in the form of

Isocyanurate units and the crosslink density it can be advantageous. together with the diepoxide A and the diisocyanate B, a comonomer C in the form of a monoisocyanate, a monoepoxide or a dicyanate of the formula (VIII)

to implement, in which mean:

Y and Z, each independently of one another, NCO, OCN or O

Z additionally an alkyl, alkyloxy, alkyloxycarbonyl or acyloxy radical with a chain length of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally branched,

X the structural elements

n 0 or 1 and

Rl to R5 are the atoms or radicals specified in connection with the formula (I). It is preferred that about 0.1 to 2 moles of comonomer C are used per mole of liquid-crystalline diisocyanate B.

The reaction conditions of the process according to the invention, in particular the temperature control and catalysis, have a significant influence on the properties of the desired anisotropic polymer. Conditions which suppress the formation of isocyanurate groups are preferred. The cyclotrimers of mesogenic diisocyanates formed primarily at low temperatures and unsuitable catalysts are crystalline solids which result from the Precipitate the reaction mixture and continue to react slowly. This

According to the invention, problems are avoided in particular by choosing suitable reaction conditions. It is advantageous if the start of the reaction starts at temperatures above about 200 ° C. It is possible to lower the reaction temperature immediately after the starting materials have melted. With certain isocyanate / epoxy compositions, especially when using non-mesogenic diisocyanates, it is advisable to lower the temperature to a certain value in order to achieve optically anisotropic phases. The choice of suitable catalysts also has an influence on the success sought with the invention. Catalysts which catalyze cyclotrimerization only to a minor extent, in particular the Lewis acid / Lewis base complexes mentioned, are preferred for the preparation of mesogenic polymers from the starting materials mentioned. It is also advantageous to use catalysts which catalyze the formation of oxazolidinone in particular (reaction product of isocyanate and oxirane) and suppress the formation of frequently insoluble isocyanurates. Optimization also results from the special selection of the isocyanates. Cyclotrimers of non-mesogenic, flexible diisocyanates are less sparingly soluble and are therefore capable of reacting particularly well with epoxy groups.

The polymers according to the invention have optical anisotropy (a frozen mesophase) if at least one of the two monomers A and B has liquid-crystalline properties. If you prepare a mixture of at least one of the two types of monomer and the catalyst, this mixture melts and initiates the polymerization. Depending on the structure of the monomers, the monomer mixture can be in the optically anisotropic state at the start of the reaction, which state is maintained during the polymerization and after the end of the reaction up to the thermal stability limit (decomposition). Another procedure within the scope of the invention is to carry out the curing at a temperature at which the mixture is isotropic and the anisotropic phase only arises in the course of the polymerization. The catalysts mentioned are known in principle.

Surprisingly, during the implementation of the starting materials mentioned, the process according to the invention also takes place in the isotropic process

Temperature range of the educt mixture, the formation of mesophases instead.

This is surprising for the person skilled in the art because through the formation of 1,3- Substituted five-membered rings do not have a higher order system than zu

The start of the reaction should be expected. The formation of mesophases during the reaction of triaromatic diepoxides with non-mesogenic diisocyanates is also surprising. Preferred is the widely used methylenebis (4-isocyanatobenzene) and fr-7HS-1,4-diisocyanate cyclohexane.

The anisotropic polymers according to the invention have many advantages, such as low thermal expansion and tensile strength in the orientation direction. Because of these advantageous properties, they can be used according to the usual

Processing methods are used as construction materials in the production of insulating materials, laminates, composites, coatings and coatings.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of various examples:

Example 1 (Preparation of starting compounds)

1. Preparation of a liquid crystalline diester diepoxide

Synthesis of hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate)

In a 500 ml two-necked flask with a reflux condenser and magnetic stirring bar, 17.5 g of hydroquinone bis (4-hydroxybenzoate) with 139.0 g of epichlorohydrin are heated to boiling with stirring. At the boiling point, 0.15 g of benzyltrimethylammonium bromide is added and the reaction mixture is refluxed for 90 minutes. The mixture is cooled, the precipitated solid is filtered off with suction, washed twice with epichlorohydrin and with ether and then dried in vacuo. The product is recrystallized from toluene.

Yield: 10.6 g

Melting point: 186 ° C Clarification temperature: 255 ° C IR (Nujol): 1732 (C = 0); 1504 (CH2); 1072 (ether); 1256, 1160, 912, 838, 758 cm ^-1 (oxirane)

1H NMR: 2.74, 2.89, 3.38 (ABM, 6H); 3.95, 4.29 (dd, 3j = 11.3 Hz, 4H); CDCI3 6.92, 8.13 (AA'XX ", 3j = 9.1 Hz, 8H); 7.19 ppm (s, 4H)

13C NMR: 44.6, 49.9 (epoxy-C); 68.9 (methylene C); 114.5, 122.7, 132.4 CDCI3 (tert. C); 122.3, 148.4, 162.8 (quart. C); 164.8 ppm (C = 0)

C26H22θ8 (462.46): calc. C: 67.5 H: 4.8 found C: 67.1 H: 4.9

0

2. Preparation of the aluminum chloride triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst:

0.633 g of freshly sublimed aluminum chloride are suspended in 10 ml of benzene distilled over calcium hydride in a 50 ml protective gas flask. 5 3.850 g triphenylphosphine oxide are now added with stirring. A mush-like mass is formed which is stirred at room temperature for two hours. The benzene is then removed by freeze-drying. A colorless powder remains.

0

Example 2 (Anisotropic Network of a Liquid-Crystalline (Triaromatic) Diisocyanate and a Liquid-Crystalline (Triaromatic) Diepoxide)

In a 25 ml protective gas flask, 5.503 g of methyl hydroquinone bis (4- ₅ isocyanatobenzoate), 6.125 g of hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate) and

0.13 g of aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst added. The mixture is homogenized.

About 0.5 mg of the mixture prepared in this way is melted on a microscope heating table at 220 ° C. and examined in polarized light. One observes _ textures of a nematic liquid crystalline phase. As the sample hardens, the textures are retained. The sample is solid after 30 minutes. When heating up to 300 ° C with a heating rate of 20 K / min, no isotropization is observed.

DSC: (10 K / min, 30 ° C, 30 ° -300 endothermic at 135 ° C (melting of ° C) diisocyanate) 5

Exothermic at 195 ° C (peak maximum) (reaction peak) 1 (90 min isothermal at 220 ° C, when subsequently heating at 220 ° C and then heating up to a heating rate of 20 K / min, there is no glass transition up to a 280 ° C (20 K / min) temperature of 340 ° C.

5

Production of a test rod

A sample of the above mixture of methyl hydroquinone bis (4-isocyanato-benzoate), hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate) and aluminum trichloride / io triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst is melted at 200 ° C., at 180 ° C. for 1 hour, then 2 h annealed at 240 ° C. The test rod received (23x13x2 mm) is not transparent.

15 Example 3:

3.060 g of hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate), 2.577 g of hydroquinone bis (4-isocyanatobenzoate) and 0.06 g of aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst are homogenized and reacted analogously to Example 1. An anisotropic product is obtained.

Example 4 (Anisotropic Network of a Liquid-Crystalline (Diaromatic) Diisocyanate and a Liquid-Crystalline (Triaromatic) Diepoxide)

25

According to Example 2, a mixture of 5.073 g of methyl hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate), 2.985 g of 4,4'-diisocyanatophenyl benzoate and 0.11 g of aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst is prepared. About 0.5 mg of the mixture so represented are below the

30 polarizing microscope examined. If the mixture is melted at 210 ° C. and further treated isothermally, an optically isotropic melt can first be observed. After five minutes the liquid begins to become anisotropic. The resulting textures of a liquid-crystalline phase are retained during the solidification of the reaction mixture. Heating the

35 hardened polymer at 290 ° C does not lead to isotropization.

DSC: (10 K / min, 30 ° C, 30 ° -300 ° C) endothermic at 70 ° C - 110 ° C

(Melting of the starting materials) Broad exotherm from 140 ° C to 270 ° C

Peak maximum at 212 ° C (reaction peak)

2.Heating (20 K / min, 30 ° C - 350 step at 306 ° C ° C)

Examples 5-9

Anisotropic networks are obtained if the following mixtures are analogous to

Example 1 prepared and cured at suitable temperatures:

2.94 g of N, N'-bis (4-epoxypropoxy-benzylidene) -1, 4-diaminochlorobenzene

2.00 g of 4,4'-diisocyanatophenyl benzoate

0.069 g aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst

1,000 g of 4,4'-diisocyanatophenyl benzoate

1.330 g of N, N'-bis (4-epoxypropoxy-benzylidene) -1, 4-diaminomethylbenzene

0.034 g aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst

1,000 g of 4,4'-diisocyanatophenyl benzoate

1.330 g of N, N'-bis (4-epoxypropoxy-benzylidene) -1, 4-diaminomethylbenzene

0.039 g of ethyl methylimidazole

3.811 g of methyl hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate)

4.614 g of 4,4'-diisocyanatophenyl benzoate

0.08 g aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst

5.077 g methylhydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate)

1.537 g of 4,4'-diisocyanatophenyl benzoate

0.10 g aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst

Example 10 (Anisotropic Network of Liquid-Crystalline (Triaromatic) Diepoxide and Non-Mesogenic (Aliphatic) Diisocyanate)

According to Example 2, a mixture of 5.347 g of hydroquinone-bis- (4- epoxypropoxybenzoate), 1.921 g -Ttms-l, 4-diisocyanatocyclohexane and 0.11 g

Aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst produced. About 0.5 mg of the mixture so represented are examined under the polarizing microscope. If the mixture is melted at a temperature of 190 ° C and further treated, it is initially isotropic

Liquid optically anisotropic after 15 minutes.

DSC: (10 K / min, 30 ° C, 30 ° -300 endothermic at 67 ° C (melting of ° C) diisocyanates)

1. Exothermic at 185 ° C (peak maximum) 2. Exothermic at 245 ° C (peak maximum)

Examples 11 and 12

Anisotropic networks are obtained if the following mixtures are analogous to

Example 1 prepared and cured at suitable temperatures:

1.953 g fπms-l, 4-diisocyanatocyclohexane

5.606 g methylhydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate)

0.11 g aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst

1,300 hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate)

0.472 g 1,6-diisocyanatohexane

0.02 g aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst

Example 13 (Anisotropic network of mesogenic (triaromatic) bisazomethine diepoxide and non-mesogenic (aromatic-aliphatic) diisocyanate)

According to Example 2, an equimolar mixture of 2.731 l, 4-bis (4-epoxypropoxy-phenylamine) dibenzylidene, 1.597 g of methylene bis (4-isocyanatobenzene) and 0.03 g of aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst is prepared.

About 0.5 mg of the mixture thus presented are examined under a polarizing microscope. Melting at 220 ° C and cooling to 150 ° C leads to the formation of textures of a liquid crystalline phase. DSC: 1. Cooling from 220 ° C to 145 When subsequently heating from 30 ° C ° C (20 K / min) with a heating rate of 20 K / min is a

2. 180 min isothermal 145 ° C glass transition at 228 ° C.

3. 190 ° C - 300 ° C / 20 K / min

Example 14 (Anisotropic network of mesogenic (triaromatic) diester diepoxide and non-mesogenic (aromatic-aliphatic) diisocyanate)

According to Example 2, a mixture of 5.63 g of hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate), 3.05 g of methylene bis (4-isocyanatobenzene) and 0.11 g of aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst is prepared. About 0.5 mg of the mixture so represented are examined under the polarizing microscope. If the mixture is melted at a temperature of 240 ° C and cooled directly at a heating rate of 20 K / min, the mixture becomes optically anisotropic when a temperature of 220 ° C is reached.

DS (10 K / min, 30 ° C, 30 ° -300 ° C) endothermic at 40 ° C (melting of the C: diisocyanate)

1. Exothermic at 117 ° C (peak maximum)

2. Exothermic at 192 ° C (peak maximum)

1.Cooling from 240 ° C to 190 ° C and then heating from 30

2. 30 minutes isothermally 190 ° C ° C with a heating rate of 20 K / min at a temperature of 187 ° C 3. 190 ° C - 300 ° C / 20 K / min a glass transition.

Example 15 (Anisotropic network of a diaromatic diisocyanate, a triaromatic diepoxide and a triaromatic dicyanate)

According to Example 1, a mixture of 2.734 g of 4,4'- Diisocyanatobiphenyl, 5.513 g of methyl hydroquinone bis (4-epoxypropoxybenzoate) and 0.480 g of hydroquinone bis (4-cyanatobenzoate) and 0.2 g of aluminum trichloride / triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst.

About 0.5 mg of the mixture so represented are below the

Polarizing microscope examined. Melting at 210 ° C and cooling to 195 ° C leads to the formation of textures of a liquid crystalline phase. The mixture cures at a temperature of 190 ° C. after 20 minutes.

Comparative Example 1 (according to EP 0252 359 A2 (Bayer AG. Det .: Dhein.R .. Müller. H.P ..

Meier. H.M .. Gipp. R.))

3.412 g of 4,4'-diisocyanatophenylbenzoate, 0.853 g of 4-epoxypropoxyphenyl-4-epoxypropoxybenzoate and 0.68 g of dimethylbenzylammonium dibutyl phosphate are homogenized by the method described in Example 1. About 0.5 mg of the mixture thus prepared is placed on a slide and melted at 150 ° C. The sample is annealed in the absence of air for 24 h at 90 ° C, then after-treated for 24 h at 180 C and 24 h at 200 ° C. The product obtained has an opaque appearance. Examination of the reaction product in polarized light under a microscope clearly shows that the opaque appearance is due to the formation of crystallites and not to the liquid-crystalline properties of the network formed.

DSC: (10 K / min, 30 ° C, 30 ° -300 ° C) endothermic at 110 ° C (melting of the

Educts)

Exothermic, peak maximum at 163 ° C (reaction peak)

Claims

claims

1. Anisotropic polymers of diepoxide A of the formula (I)

J

Z.

in which mean:

Y 0-CH _{2 /} CH ₂ or a CC single bond,

X the structural elements

Rl to Rs, independently of one another, hydrogen, halogen, a methyl, ethyl,

Propyl or butyl or

R ₂ , R3, R4 or R5 is a benzene radical,

R ₂ to R5 are hydrogen if Ri is not hydrogen,

R _{l is} hydrogen if R ₂ to R5 are not equal to hydrogen, and n 1 to 3, the middle group Z being a heteroaromatic ring with one or two

Hetero nitrogen atoms or also a cycloaliphatic -Tfl7-s-l, 4-cyclohexylene-

Rest can be and from diisocyanate B of formulas (II) to (VII)

¹ '

OCN.

NCO (V)

in what mean

Y is a CC single bond, CH ₂ or H ₄ ,

X the structural elements

n 0 or 1 and

Radicals, where the middle group Z can also be a cycloaliphatic f πs-1,4-cyclohexylene radical, and

R (CH ₂ ) ₆ -NCO, the molar ratio of diepoxide A to diisocyanate B being about 2: 1 to 1: 4.

2. Anisotropic polymers according to claim 1, characterized in that the molar ratio of diepoxide A to diisocyanate B is about 1: 1 to 1: 1.5.

3. Anisotropic polymers according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that n in formula (I) and (II) is 1.

4. A process for the preparation of the anisotropic polymers according to claims 1 to 4, optionally in the presence of catalysts, other comonomers and other customary additives, characterized in that the diepoxide A of the formula (I) and the diisocyanate B selected from the Diisocyanates (II) to (VII) existing group, at a temperature of about 100 to 300 ° C in a molar ratio of about 2: 1 to 1: 4 are implemented.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the diepoxide A and the diisocyanate B are reacted at a temperature of about 150 to 220 ° C.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that a complex of Lewis acids and weak Lewis bases is used as catalyst.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that an aluminum chloride-triphenylphosphine oxide complex is used as catalyst.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the catalyst is used in an amount of about 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the reactive components of the starting mixture.

10. The method according to at least one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the anisotropic polymer obtained is subjected to post-curing.

11. The method according to at least one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that to modify the properties of the anisotropic polymer with the diepoxide A and the diisocyanate B, a comonomer C in the form of a monoisocyanate, monoepoxide or a diisocyanate of the formula (VIII)

is implemented, in which mean:

Y and Z, each independently, NCO, OCN or

Z additionally an alkyl, alkyloxy, alkyloxycarbonyl or acyloxy radical with a chain length of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally branched, X the structural elements

n 0 or 1 and

Rl to R5 are the atoms or radicals specified in connection with the formula (I).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that about 0.1 to 2 moles of comonomer C per mole of diisocyanate B are used.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the building blocks of the anisotropic polymer are oriented in a preferred direction by applying an electrical or magnetic field.