Polyoxadiazoles (POD)

Properties and Applications

Polyoxadiazole (POD) is an extremely heat-resistant heterocyclic thermoplastic. It is produced through the reaction of a dihydrazide with a diacid or a derivative of it. Despite its excellent thermo-mechanical properties, it has gained only a modest market share among the engineering polymers. Its use is probably limited by its high price, and by difficulties in synthesis and processing. POD exhibits outstanding thermal mechanical properties and thus, is well suited for high temperature applications. Other useful properties include high young's modulus (stiffness), outstanding abrasion resistance, low dielectric properties, high flame retardance, high resistance to organic solvents and good resistance to diluted inorganic acids and bases. However, unmodified polyoxadiazole also has some deficiencies including high curing temperature, low solubility, and low fracture toughness.

Polyoxadiazole is mainly used for high performance textile products and as fiber reinforcements. Important applications include heat resistant garments, rubber and plastic reinforcements, heat and chemical resistant filters, friction pads, abrasion-resistant bearings and bushings. Polyoxadiazoles can also be converted to thin films to be used as membranes for gas separation or in fuel cells. The maximum service temperature of POD is typically in the range of 230 - 250 °С^1,2

Manufacturers & Distributors

• OJSC SvetlogorskKhimvolokno
• Gruschwitz GmbH

Brand Names

• Arselon
• Getadur

¹Y.N. Sazanov et al., Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry, Vol. 88, 8, pp 1304–1310 (2015)
²POD can withstand temperatures up to 400 °C for a short time and starts to degrade at temperatures around 460 to 480 °С.¹