Structure-property relationships in addition polyimides. I: Resins from four-ring aromatic diamines containing carbonyl and methylene groups

Abstract

In an effort to improve the processing characteristics of addition-type polyimide resins the use of flexibilized four-ring aromatic diamine moieties was investigated. A series of 12 diamines containing carbonyl and methylene, as well as oxo and thio bridging groups, was synthesized. The diamines were polymerized with the dimethyl ester of 3,3',4,4' benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid (BTDE). using the monomethyl ester of nadic acid (NE) as an end-cap. The effect of diamine structure on the solubility and rheological properties during cure was determined. This paper also describes the effect of diamine structure and formulated molecular weight on the glass transition temperature and thermo-oxidative stability at elevated temperatures after various post-cure regimes. The results indicate that polyimides from some of the diamines containing methylene connecting groups have potential as matrix resins for long-term applications at temperatures up to 300 C.