Poly(arylene ether)-poly(hydroxy ether) block copolymer and method of making

A poly(arylene ether)-poly(hydroxy ether) block copolymer comprising:

• at least one poly(hydroxy ether) block having the structure
• —B-[A-B]n-
• wherein A is a residue of structure
• —O-[G1]t-[E]s-[G1]u-O—
• wherein each G1 is independently at each occurrence a C6-C20 aromatic radical, and E is independently at each occurrence a direct bond, or a structure selected from the group consisting of
• wherein each occurrence of R11-R14 is independently hydrogen a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl, s is 0 or 1, and t and u are each independently 1 to 10;
• and wherein B is a residue of structure
• wherein R8 to R10 are each independently hydrogen, or C1-C12 hydrocarbyl;
• and wherein n is about 1 to about 60;
• and
• at least one poly(arylene ether) block,
• wherein the poly(arylene ether)-poly(hydroxy ether) block copolymer has a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 50,000 atomic mass units.

A method of making a poly(arylene ether)-poly(hydroxy ether) block copolymer, comprising:

• reacting a telechelic poly(arylene ether) having terminal hydroxyl groups with a telechelic poly(hydroxy ether) epoxy resin having terminal epoxy groups;
• wherein the telechelic poly(hydroxy ether) epoxy resin having terminal epoxy groups has the structure
• —B′-[A-B]n-1-A-B″-
• wherein A is a residue of structure
• —O-[G1]t-[E]s-[G1]u-O—
• wherein each G1 is independently at each occurrence a C6-C20 aromatic radical, and E is independently at each occurrence a direct bond, or a structure selected from the group consisting of
• wherein each occurrence of R11-R14 is independently hydrogen or C1-C12 hydrocarbyl, s is 0 or 1, and t and u are each independently 1 to 10;
• wherein B is a residue having the structure
• wherein R8 to R10 are each independently hydrogen, or C1-C12 hydrocarbyl;
• wherein B′ is a residue having the structure
• wherein B″ is a residue having the structure
• wherein n is about 1 to about 60;
• wherein the mole ratio of the telechelic poly(hydroxy ether) to the telechelic poly(arylene ether) is 0.95:1 to 1.00:1.