Outgassing of high temperature-resistant organic polymeric materials

Four polymeric materials, polyphenylene oxide, polyquinoline, acetylene substituted polyimide, and polybenzimidazole, reported to possess high-temperature resistance, were investigated in order. to determine their outgassing characteristics as related to their suitability for high temperature applications in confined structures. The materials were sequentially exposed to 150, 250 and 450°C for 3 h periods and the types and amounts of their outgassed products were determined. The amounts of outgassed- products were small from polyquinoline, acetylene substituted polyimide, and polybenzimidazole. It was concluded that those materials would be suitable for use in applications where high-temperature resistance (up to 450°C) is required, providing that normal ventilation is available. The quantity of outgassed products from polyphenylene oxide was too great to consider that material suitable for shipboard or other confined structure applications requiring high-temperature resistance.