Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of soluble aromatic poly(amide imide)s

Novel diamines such as N,N′-bis(aminoaryl)terephthalamido-2-carboxylic acids (BATCA), which contain primary amine, amide and carboxylic acid groups and are soluble in dilute aqueous NaOH solution, were synthesized by reacting aromatic diamines with trimellitic anhydride chloride in dimethylformamide. Poly(amide imide)s containing 3:1 ratio of amide:imide groups in the polymer chain were prepared by low temperature solution polymerization of BATCAs with isophthaloyl chloride or terephthaloyl chloride in dimethylformamide at 5-10 °C to form poly(amide amic acid)s, and followed by treating with a mixture of triethylamine and acetic anhydride. The PAIs were soluble in polar aprotic solvents like dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulphoxide and N-methylpyrrolidone, and have inherent viscosities in the range of 0.30-0.66 dL/g. The PAIs were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR techniques. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has shown that the initial decomposition temperatures of the polymers are in the range of 250-440 °C, depending upon the structures of diamine and diacid chloride. The glass transition temperatures of the PAIs are in the range of 128-320 °C. The IDT and T_g values of the polymers containing terephthaloyl unit are higher by about 20-40 °C than those of the polymers with isophthaloyl unit. BATCA could be utilized for the preparation of thin film composite membranes having PAA/PAI barrier layer on PES by in situ interfacial polymerization with IPC/TPC/TMC.     

Synthesis and properties of novel copolymers of poly(ether ketone diphenyl ketone ether ketone ketone) and poly(ether amide ether amide ether ketone ketone)

New monomers, 4,4′‐bis(4‐phenoxybenzoyl)diphenyl (BPOBDP) and N,N′‐bis(4‐phenoxybenzoyl)?4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (BPBDAE), were conveniently synthesized via simple synthetic procedures from readily available materials. Novel copolymers of poly(ether ketone diphenyl ketone ether ketone ketone) (PEKDKEKK) and poly(ether amide ether amide ether ketone ketone) (PEAEAEKK) were synthesized by electrophilic Friedel‐Crafts solution copolycondensation of isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) with a mixture of BPOBDP and BPBDAE, over a wide range of BPOBDP/BPBDAE molar ratios, in the presence of anhydrous AlCl₃ and N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in 1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE). The copolymers obtained were characterized by different physico‐chemical techniques. The copolymers with 10–40 mol% BPBDAE are semicrystalline and had remarkably increased T_gs over commercially available PEEK and PEKK due to the incorporation of amide and diphenyl linkages in the main chains. The copolymers IV and V with 30–40 mol% BPBDAE had not only high T_gs of 185–188°C, but also moderate T_ms of 326–330°C, having good potential for the melt processing. The copolymers IV and V had tensile strengths of 101.7–102.3 MPa, Young's moduli of 2.19–2.42 GPa, and elongations at break of 13.2–16.6% and exhibited high thermal stability and excellent resistance to organic solvents. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1757–1764, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble aromatic poly(ether amide amide ether ketone ketone)s by electrophilic Friedel–Crafts solution polycondensation

A new monomer, N,N′-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-m-phenylenediamine (BPBMPD), was prepared by condensation of m-phenylenediamine with 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Novel soluble aromatic poly(ether amide amide ether ketone ketone)s (PEAAEKKs) were synthesized by electrophilic Friedel–Crafts solution copolycondensation of BPBMPD with a mixture of terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) and isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) in the presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE). The influences of reaction conditions on the preparation of polymers were examined. The polymers obtained were characterized by different physico-chemical techniques such as FT-IR, DSC, TGA, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). All the polymers were amorphous and the solubility of the polymers was improved by the incorporation of 1,3-dibenzoylaminobenzene moieties in the main chain. Thermal analyses showed that the polymers had high T_gs of 220–231 °C and exhibited high thermal stability. All the polymers formed transparent, strong, and flexible films, with tensile strengths of 102.9–108.5 MPa, Young’s moduli of 2.44–2.86 GPa, and elongations at break of 9.8–13.7%.     

Synthesis and properties of novel poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing imide linkages in the main chains

A new monomer containing imide linkages, bis[4-(p-phenoxybenzoyl)-1,2-benzenedioyl]-N,N,N′,N′-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (BPBDADPE), was prepared by the Friedel–Crafts reaction of bis(4-chloroformyl-1,2-benzenedioyl)-N,N,N′,N′-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (BCBDADPE) with diphenyl ether (DPE). Novel poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing imide linkages in the main chains (PEK-I) were synthesized by electrophilic Friedel–Crafts solution copolycondensation of terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) with a mixture of DPE and BPBDADPE. The polymers were characterized by different physico-chemical techniques. The polymers with 10–40 mol% BPBDADPE are semicrystalline and had increased T _gs over commercially available poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) and poly(ether ketone ketone) (PEKK) (70/30) due to the incorporation of imide linkages in the main chains. The polymers IV and V with 30–40 mol% BPBDADPE had not only high T _gs of 182–183 °C, but also moderate T _ms of 341–343 °C, having good potential for melt processing and exhibited high thermal stability and good resistance to common organic solvents.     

Polyimides from 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and aromatic diamines

A series of new polyimides were prepared from the reaction of 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (a-BPDA) with various aromatic diamines. The properties of the a-BPDA polyimides were compared with those of polyimides prepared from the reaction of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (s-BPDA) with the same aromatic diamines. Films of the a-BPDA polyimides had higher glass transition temperatures (T_gs) and less color than the corresponding s-BPDA polyimide films. Light transmission at 500 nm, solar absorptivity, and thermal emissivity were determined on certain films. Films of similar polyimides based upon a-BPDA and s-BPDA containing meta linkages and others containing para linkages were each cured at 250, 300, and 350 °C. The films were characterized primarily by T_g, color, optical transparency, tensile properties, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and coefficient of thermal expansion. The a-BPDA meta linked polyimide films had tensile strengths and moduli higher than films of the a-BPDA para linked polyimide. The same phenomenon was not observed for the s-BPDA meta and para linked polyimides. The chemistry, mechanical, and physical properties of the polymers and films are discussed.     

Reversible thickness control of polymer thin films containing photoreactive coumarin derivative units

The reversible control of the thickness of polymer thin films was investigated using (meth)acrylic polymers containing photoreactive coumarin derivative units in the side chain. Coumarin derivative units underwent dimerization and the reverse-dimerization by photoirradiation and were used as a reversible cross-linking point. The homopolymer of 7-methacryloyloxy-4-methylcoumarin (T_g = 194 °C) did not cause changes in film thickness after photoreactions. The homopolymer of 7-(2′-acryloyloxyethoxy)-4-methylcoumarin (AEMC) (T_g = 89 °C) decreased 19% of film thickness by photodimerization and 73% of the decreased thickness was recovered after the reverse-dimerization and the subsequent thermal annealing at 130 °C. The reverse-dimerization of the copolymer of AEMC and n-butyl acrylate (AEMC content = 19 mol%, T_g = 11 °C) resulted in 53% of recovery from the decreased film thickness without annealing. The mobility of polymer main-chain was revealed to be essential factor to change film thickness by photoreactions. Photodimerization of coumarin derivative units in low glass transition temperature (T_g) tended to proceed faster than in high T_g polymers and resulted in larger decrease in film thickness.     

Gas foaming of segmented poly(ester amide) films

Biodegradable segmented poly(ester amide)s, based on dimethyl adipate, 1,4-butanediol and N,N′-1,2-ethanediyl-bis[6-hydroxy-hexanamide], with two distinct melting transitions were gas foamed using carbon dioxide (CO₂). Polymer films were saturated with CO₂ at 50 bar for 6 h after which the pressure was released. The samples were immersed in octane at the desired temperature after which foaming started immediately. Just above the lower melt transition the polymers retain adequate mechanical properties and dimensional stability, while the chain mobility increased sufficiently to nucleate and expand gas cells during the foaming process. In this way semi-crystalline poly(ester amide)s can be gas foamed below the flow temperature.Two poly(ester amide)s with 25 mol% (PEA2,5-25) and 50 mol% (PEA2,5-50) of bisamide segment content were foamed at 70 and 105 °C, respectively. The storage modulus (G′) of both pure polymers at the onset foaming temperature is 50-60 MPa. Closed-cell foams were obtained with a maximum porosity of ∼90%. The average pore size of PEA2,5-25 ranges from 77 to 99 μm. In contrast, the average pore size of PEA2,5-50 is in between 2 and 4 μm and can be increased to 100 μm by lowering the CO₂ saturation pressure to 20 bar. The porosity of PEA2,5-50 foams using this saturation pressure decreased to 70%.     

Synthesis and characterization of highly fluorescent phenylene vinylene containing perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aromatic ether polymers

4-(Trifluorovinyloxy)benzaldehyde was treated under Wittig conditions with 4-dihexyloxy-2,5-xylenebis(triphenylphosphoniumbromide) to form 1,4-bis(2′-(4-trifluorovinyloxyphenyl)ethenyl)-2,5-dihexyloxybenzene, a novel phenylene vinylene-bistrifluorovinyl ether monomer. Cyclopolymerization afforded an insoluble, non-luminescent material likely due to cross-addition reactions between phenylene vinylene olefin and trifluorovinyl ether (TFVE). However, 1,2-bis(4-formylphenoxy)hexafluorocyclobutane was polymerized with 1,4-dihexyloxy-2,5-xylenebis(triphenylphosphoniumbromide) and 1-methoxy-4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-2,5-xylenebis(triphenylphosphoniumbromide) under Wittig conditions to yield two novel poly(perfluorocyclobutyl-co-phenylene vinylene) polymers. The polymers are of moderate molecular weight (8600-8700 M_n), show excellent thermal stability (T_d = 390-405 °C), and are readily soluble in common organic solvents. The materials are highly fluorescent in both solution and thin film with solution quantum yields of 68 and 71%.     

Thermally stable NLO poly(amide-imide)s via sequential self-repetitive reaction

A series of thermally stable side-chain second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) poly(amide-imide)s via sequential self-repetitive reaction (SSRR) have been developed. This SSRR is based on carbodiimide (CDI) chemistry. Three difunctional azo chromophores (DR19, NDPD and DNDA) were, respectively, reacted with excessive amount of 4,4′-methylene-diphenylisocyanate (MDI) to form poly-CDI, and subsequently trimellitic anhydride (TMA) was added to obtain an intermediate, poly(N-acylurea). Poly(N-acylurea) exhibits excellent organosolubility, which enables the fabrication of high quality optical thin films. Moreover, its moderate glass transition temperature (T_g) characteristic allows the NLO-active polymer to exhibit high poling efficiency. After in situ poling and curing process, N-acylurea moieties were converted to amide-imide structures via SSRR, and the T_gs of the polymers were elevated significantly up to 70 °C higher than that of the poly-CDI sample. Electro-optical coefficients, r₃₃ of about 5.2-25.2 pm/V at 830 nm were obtained. Good temporal stability (80 °C) and waveguide optical losses (3.8-6.6 dB/cm at 830 nm) were also obtained for these polymers.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyimides and co-polyimides having pendant benzoic acid moiety

A novel diamine monomer, 2,4-diamino-4′-carboxy diphenyl ether had been synthesized. Several polyimides were prepared by reacting this diamine with commercially available dianhydrides, such as benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA), 4,4′-bis{hexafluoroisopropylidene bis (phthalic anhydride)}(6-FDA), oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BPDA). Furthermore, copolymers from the resulting diamine and oxydianiline (ODA) with 6 FDA were also synthesized. The inherent viscosities of the polymers were 0.42-0.67 dl g⁻¹. The polymers have good solubility in polar aprotic solvents, high thermal stability up to 410 °C in nitrogen and high glass transition temperatures (T_g) ranging from 260-330 °C. These polymers formed tough flexible films by solution casting.     

New fluorinated poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether-imide)s

New fluorinated poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether-imide)s have been prepared by solution polycondensation reaction of different aromatic diamines having preformed 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring, such as 2,5-bis(p-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2,5-bis[p-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2,5-bis[p-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-5-(3,5-diaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole and 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(3,5-diaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, with an aromatic dianhydride incorporating ether linkages and hexafluoroisopropylidene group, namely 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2,2-bis-[(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]-propane dianhydride. The polymers were easily soluble in polar organic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylformamide, and pyridine, as well as in certain low boiling-point organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. Very thin coatings deposited onto silicon wafers exhibited smooth, pinhole-free surface in atomic force microscopy. The polymers showed high thermal stability with decomposition temperature being above 410 °C. They exhibited a glass transition in the temperature range of 183-217 °C, with reasonable interval between glass transition and decomposition temperature. Solutions of some polymers in N,N-dimethylformamide exhibited blue fluorescence, having maximum emission wavelength in the range of 411-424 nm.     

Synthesis and characterization of partly fluorinated poly(phthalazinone ether)s crosslinked by allyl group for passive optical waveguides

It is necessary to introduce cross-linkable groups onto polymer chains as the processability and thermal stability of the polymers for passive waveguide device applications are very dependent on their cross-linking capabilities. Herein a series of novel cross-linkable allyl-containing fluorinated poly(phthalazinone ether)s (Allyl-FPPEs) have been prepared by a modified polycondensation of 4-(4-hydroxylphenyl)(2H)-phthalazin-1-one (DHPZ), decafluorobiphenyl (DFBP), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol (6F-BPA), and 3,3′-diallyl-4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl (DA-DHBP) for optical waveguide applications. The obtained random polymers were characterized by FT-IR, NMR and GPC. The resulting polymers having good solubility in polar organic solvents at room temperature, can be easily spin-coated into thin films with attracting optical quality, good thermal stabilities (the temperatures of 1% mass-loss after curing: 455-503 °C), and high glass transition temperatures (T_gs: 167-251 °C) which could further increase by about 20 °C after thermal cross-linking. The crosslinked polymer films exhibit good optical properties. By adjusting the feed ratio of the reactants, the refractive indices of TE and TM modes (at 1550 nm) could be well controlled in the range of 1.4998-1.5618 and 1.4954-1.5520, respectively. The optical losses of the crosslinked polymers possess rather low values, less than 0.3 dB/cm at 1550 nm.     

Incorporation of different crystallizable amide blocks in segmented poly(ester amide)s

High molecular weight segmented poly(ester amide)s were prepared by melt polycondensation of dimethyl adipate, 1,4-butanediol and a symmetrical bisamide-diol based on ε-caprolactone and 1,2-diaminoethane or 1,4-diaminobutane. FT-IR and WAXD analysis revealed that segmented poly(ester amide)s based on the 1,4-diaminobutane (PEA(4)) give an α-type crystalline phase whereas polymers based on the 1,2-diaminoethane (PEA(2)) give a mixture of α- and γ-type crystalline phases with the latter being similar to γ-crystals present in odd-even nylons. PEA(2) and PEA(4) polymers with a hard segment content of 25 or 50 mol% have a micro-phase separated structure with an amide-rich hard phase and an ester-rich flexible soft phase. All polymers have a glass transition temperature below room temperature and melt transitions are present at 62-70 °C (T_m,1) and at 75-130 °C (T_m,2) with the latter being highest at higher hard segment content. The two melt transitions are ascribed to melting of crystals comprising single ester amide sequences and two or more ester amide sequences, respectively. These polymers have an elastic modulus in the range of 159-359 MPa, a stress at break in the range of 15-25 MPa combined with a high strain at break (590-810%). The thermal and mechanical properties are not influenced by the different crystalline structures of the polymers, only by the amount of crystallizable hard segment present.     

Synthesis and properties of soluble poly[bis(benzimidazobenzisoquinolinones)] based on novel aromatic tetraamine monomers

Four aromatic tetraamine monomers possessing flexible ether linkages were successfully synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydroquinone, 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl, 2,2′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene with 5-chloro-2-nitroaniline, followed by reduction, respectively. With these monomers, a new class of soluble poly[bis(benzimidazobenzisoquinolinones)] was prepared by a one-step, high-temperature solution polycondensation. The resulting polymers were completely soluble in phenolic solvents and had high inherent viscosities ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 g dL⁻¹. These polymers had glass transition temperatures in the range of 427-449 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that all polymers were thermally stable, with 5% weight loss recorded above 510 °C in nitrogen. The tough polymer films, obtained by casting from solution, had tensile strength, elongation at break, and tensile modulus values in the range of 79.5-114.5 MPa, 10.3-23.0%, and 1.1-1.7 GPa, respectively. It is demonstrated that these semiladder polymer membranes displayed high CO₂ permeability coefficients (P₂CO=31.6−96.5barrer) and permeability selectivity of CO₂ to CH₄(P₂CO/P₄CH=30.6−43.4).     

Synthesis and properties of polynorbornenes bearing oligomeric siloxane pendant groups

The ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene derivatives 1-5 bearing oligomeric siloxane pendant groups was carried out with Grubbs 1st and 2nd generation, and Grubbs-Hoveyda ruthenium (Ru) catalysts. Monomer 1 gave high-molecular-weight polymers (M_n ca. 27?000-180?000) in high yields (80-100%). Monomers 2-5 also polymerized with Ru carbene catalysts to give high-molecular-weight polymers (M_n ca. 34?000-240?000) in high yields (66-100%). The onset temperatures of weight loss (T₀) of the polymers were 180-250 °C. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of poly(1) and poly(2) bearing branched siloxane linkages were near or higher than room temperature (27 and 101 °C). Meanwhile, the T_gs of poly(3)-poly(5) bearing linear siloxane linkages were much lower (−115 to −23 °C), and decreased with increasing length of the siloxane linkages. Poly(1) and poly(2) were hydrogenated completely, which was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The free-standing membranes of poly(1) and poly(2) showed high gas permeability; especially poly(2) is the most permeable to various gases among ROMP-polynorbornene derivatives reported so far.     

Synthesis of nitrile and benzoyl substituted poly(biphenylene oxide)s via nitro displacement reaction

A series of substituted poly(biphenylene oxide)s (PBPOs) was synthesized via nucleophilic nitro displacement reactions. High molecular weight PBPO's with nitrile groups were effectively synthesized from the polymerization of A-B type monomers with K₂CO₃ as a base in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) at 140 °C. The polymers are completely amorphous, soluble in polar aprotic solvents, and formed flexible films on solution casting. Para-linked PBPO with nitrile groups showed excellent thermal properties such as high 5% weight loss temperature above 530 °C and T_g at 241 °C which is higher than those of commercially available PPO™ (T_g=210 °C). The pendent nitrile groups of PBPO were easily transformed to carboxylic acid groups by acidic hydrolysis.     

Semi-aromatic copoly(ether ether amide): Synthesis and properties

A series of semi-aromatic copoly(ether ether amide)s (hydroquinone (HQ) (0%)-HQ (100%)) were synthesized by 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenylethane (BHPPE), 1,4-benzenediol (HQ) and 1,6-N,N′-bis(4-fuorobenzamide) hexane (BFBH) in this work. The inherent viscosities of copoly(ether ether amide)s were in the range of 0.487–0.769 dl g⁻¹. Following with increase of the content of HQ, the resultant polymers were converted from amorphous to crystalline. The copolymers were found to have high glass transition temperatures (T_g) of 141.4–155.6°C and weight-loss temperature (T_5%) of 423.3–434.3°C. They can be hot-pressed into films with tensile strength of 63.3–87.6 MPa, and storage modulus over 0.8 GPa at about 150°C, indicating good thermal and mechanical property of the obtained copolymers. The results of rheological property showed that the copolymers had good melt flowability and thermal stability. Additionally, the introduction of HQ improved the corrosion resistance of copolymers, the obtained polymers HQ (60%), HQ (80%) and HQ (100%) exhibited better corrosion resistance than that of HQ (0%). Especially, HQ (80%) and HQ (100%) were insoluble in organic polar solvents such as DMSO, DMF because of their crystalline nature, indicating that they had potential to be applied to the corrosion-resistant materials.     

High glass transition and thermal stability of new pyridine-containing polyimides: Effect of protonation on fluorescence

A new diamine monomer containing heterocyclic pyridine and triphenylamine groups, 4-(4,4′-diaminotriphenylamine)-2,6-bis(4-methylphenyl)pyridine (4), was synthesized by Chichibabin and nucleophilic fluoro-displacement reactions. The diamine was used to prepare a series of novel polyimides via polycondensation with various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. The polyimide 4a derived from the diamine 4 with 4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride and having high T_g (313 °C), mechanical, and thermal properties was soluble in various organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, pyridine, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, at room temperature. The polyimide (4a) could be cast into a self-standing film from DMAc solution and was thermally converted into tough and flexible film. The film had high tensile modulus of 2.2 GPa and exhibited excellent thermal stability in both nitrogen and air (T_d¹⁰ > 550 °C). The pristine polymer exhibited the UV-vis absorption bands in the region 240-400 nm and protonated polymer exhibited absorption in the region 390-500 nm. The protonated polymer possessed strong orange fluorescence (around 600 nm) in THF solution after protonation with acids as excited at 438 nm. The fluorescent intensity was influenced by the acid concentrations and the chemical structure of conjugated bases. The fluorescent intensity at 600 nm increased as acid concentration from a lower to a moderate concentration and decreased at higher concentrations.     

Epoxy/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) hybrid networks cured with an anhydride: Cure kinetics and thermal properties

A new class of organic-inorganic hybrid networks was prepared via copolymerization of octakis(dimethylsiloxybutyl epoxide)octasilsesquioxane (OB), N,N,N′,N′-tetraglycidyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl methane (TGDDM) and hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA). Kinetic studies show that even with 1H-imidazole as the catalyst, the rate for the curing of OB/HHPA is still significantly higher than that for TGDDM/HHPA in the temperature range studied. Two-stage reactions were thus carried out to allow OB to react with HHPA first (Stage I). The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the networks was found to be strongly dependent on Stage I reaction since too short a reaction time caused poor bonding of OB to the networks while too long a reaction time led to the formation of OB oligomers that de-homogenized the networks. With 5 mol.% OB, the hybrid prepared via the optimized two-stage reaction displayed a large jump of ∼20 °C in T_g, which was accompanied by slight improvements in thermal degradation temperature and storage modulus, as compared to TGDDM/HHPA.     

High thermal stable thermoplastic-thermosetting polyimide film by use of asymmetric dianhydride (a-BPDA)

In order to obtain thermoplastic (before curing) and thermosetting (after curing) polyimides with high T_g for adhesive film, we prepared novel polyimides having phenylethynyl group in the side chain (44% of concentration of curing group) from asymmetric 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (a-BPDA), 3,4′-oxydianiline (3,4′-ODA) or 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (1,3,4-APB) or 1,3-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene (1,3,3-APB), and 2,4-diamino-1-(4-phenylethynylphenoxy)benzene (mPDAp). Among three kinds of polymer, uncured polyimide of a-BPDA/1,3,4-APB; mPDAp had rather high T_g (265 °C, DMA) and thermoplasticity (E′ drop>10³ at T_g). After curing reaction of phenylethynyl group, the T_g of the polyimide was increased dramatically (364 °C, DMA). The polyimide derived from 1,3,4-APB having less concentration of curing group (20%) was also prepared to improve further film flexibility and toughness.