Crosslinkable fluorinated polyarylene ether composition

A method of crosslinking a fluorinated poly(arylene ether), comprising the steps of:

• (i) forming an intimate mixture of a fluorinated poly(arylene ether) comprising a repeat unit of the structure ##STR46## wherein --W-- is ##STR47## wherein independently each --A is --CH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or --A is --F, --Cl, --Br, --CF.sub.3, --CH.sub.3, or --C.sub.6 H.sub.5 ;
• p is 0, 1, or 2;
• --Z-- is a direct bond or --Z-- is --C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --, --C(CF.sub.3).sub.2 --, --O--, --S--, --SO.sub.2 --, --CO--, --P(C.sub.6 H.sub.5)--, C(CH.sub.3)(C.sub.6 H.sub.5), --C(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 --, --(CF.sub.2).sub.1-6 --, or ##STR48## wherein --Y-- is --O-- or --Y-- is a direct bond;
• and m is 0, 1, or 2;
• independently each --X is --CH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or --X is --H, --Cl, --Br, --CF.sub.3, --CH.sub.3, or --C.sub.6 H.sub.5 ;
• q is 0, 1, or 2;
• and n is 1 or 2;
• and a bistriazene crosslinking agent of the formula ##STR49## wherein --R.sub.1, --R.sub.2, --R.sub.3, and --R.sub.4 are independently --H, --C.sub.6 H.sub.5, --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 Y', or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;
• --R.sub.5 -- is --O--, --SO.sub.2 --, ##STR50## --B is --F, --Cl, --Br, --CH.sub.3, or --CF.sub.3 ;
• r is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• and --Y' is halogen, --NO.sub.2, --C.sub.6 H.sub.5, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;
• the bistriazene compound being present in an amount effective to crosslink the fluorinated poly(arylene ether);
• (ii) forming a shaped body from the mixture of fluorinated poly(arylene ether) and bistriazene compound and removing any solvent present;
• and
• (iii) heating the shaped body to a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the bistriazene compound, thereby effecting the crosslinking of the fluorinated poly(arylene ether).