The British Petroleum Company, P.l.c.

John H Edwards

William James Feast

David C Bott

The present invention relates to coherent poly(acetylene) films and to a method of producing such polyacetylenes. The process comprises solvent casting a solution of a polymer of the general formula (V) derived from a precursor (IV), and transforming the pre-cast, polymer (V) into a poly(acetylene) (III) film and a by-product (VI) at a temperature between 20.degree. and 200.degree. C. at reduced pressure. The poly(acetylene) thus formed has a substantially higher density than the poly(acetylene) polymers produced hitherto. The morphology of the poly(acetylene) produced is that of a thin, coherent solid film with no voids and, no basic structural units are visible even at a magnification of 10,000 times. The polymers also have a lower crystallinity than those produced by conventional methods.

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Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom

John H Edwards