The Influence of Diphenyl Siloxane on Morphology and Physical Properties in the Poly(Imide Siloxane)(PIS) Copolymer

Various numbers of diphenyl-siloxane groups were incorporated in α,ω-bis(aminopropyl)polydimethylsiloxane (APPS) to prepare α,ω-bis(aminopropyl)-polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane (APPPS) oligomers of three different number-average molecular weights(Mn = 547,772,1210 g mol⁻¹).These APPPS oligomers were than used, together with 3,3′,4,4′-bezonphenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 2-2′-bis4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl] sulfone (m-BAPS), to synthesize a series of APPPS containing poly(imide siloxane) (PIS) copolymers. Microstructural studies showed that at certain APPPS content, a critical microphase separation point existed, beyond which, microphase separation began to develop. This critical point of microphase separation was found to be affected by the Mn of the APPPS oligomers (8.0, 4.3 and 2.1 mol% for Mn of 547, 772 and 1,210 g mol⁻¹, respectively). Diphenyl-siloxane significantly improved compatibility between polyimide and polysiloxane segments. Physical studies showed that the introduction of diphenyl siloxane changed the thermal stabilities and mechanical properties of the PIS copolymers. These findings have potential applications for design purposes in engineering polymers.