Miscible polybenzimidazole blends with a benzophenone-based polyimide

Miscible blends of the aromatic polybenzimidazole, poly(2,2(m-phenylene)-5,5′-benzimidazole) (PBI), and the aromatic polyimide formed from 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 3,3′-diaminobenzophenone (LaRC TPI) have been prepared. Blends with PBI were prepared in N,N-dimethylacetamide solution starting with either the polyamic acid or a 95% imidized form of LaRC TPI; the blend was then precipitated into water or cast as films. The mixture was then imidized thermally to obtain PBI/LaRC TPI blends. Evidence for miscibility was obtained in the form of single composition dependent T_g's intermediate between those of the component polymers and single tan δ dynamic mechanical relaxation peaks. The IR spectra displayed shifts in the N? H stretching band, thereby providing evidence for specific interactions related to the miscibility of these two polymers.     

Thermal and rheological properties of miscible polyethersulfone/polyimide blends

Blends of an aromatic polyethersulfone (commercial name Victrex) and a polyimide (commercial name Matrimid 5218), the condensation product of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 5(6)-amino-1-(4′-aminophenyl)-1,3,3′-trimethylindane, were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and rheological techniques. The blends appeared to be miscible over the whole range of compositions when cast as films or precipitated from solution in a number of solvents. After annealing above the apparent phase boundary, located above T_g, the blends were irreversibly phase separated indicating that the observed phase boundary does not represent a true state of equilibrium. Only a narrow “processing window” was found for blends containing up to 20 wt % polyimide. Rheological measurements in this range of compositions indicated that blending polyethersulfone with polyimide increases the complex viscosity and the elastic modulus of the blends. For blends containing more than 10 wt % polyimide, abrupt changes in the rheological properties were observed at temperatures above the phase boundary. These changes may be consistent with the formation of a network structure (due to phase separation and/or crosslinking). Blends containing less than 10 wt % polyimide exhibited stable rheological properties after heating at 320°C for 20 min, indicating the existence of thermodynamic equilibrium.     

Low dielectric constant polyimide nanomats by electrospinning

The proper combination of material (i.e. fluorinated polyimides) and processing technique (electrospinning) could lead to the formation of polyimides with low dielectric constant, high thermo‐oxidative stability and glass transition temperature, and high hydrophobicity. The polyimides in this work were based on 4, 4‐bis [3′‐trifluoromethyl‐4′ (4′‐amino benzoxy) benzyl] biphenyl (Q) and various fluorinated and non‐fluorinated dianhydrides namely benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride, and 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). Processing of the polyimides was carried out in poly(amic acid) stage by two different methods—electrospinning and solution casting for comparison purposes. The processing of polyimides by electrospinning led to enhancement in mechanical properties (dianhydride‐structure dependent) and hydrophobicity without sacrificing thermo‐oxidative stability and glass transition temperatures significantly. Also, low dielectric constants (as low as 1.43) could be attained by suitable combination of dianhydride (6FDA) with 4, 4‐bis [3′‐trifluoromethyl‐4′ (4′‐amino benzoxy) benzyl] biphenyl diamine. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface and morphological characterization of polysiloxane-block-polyimides

Two series of polysiloxane-block-polyimides were synthesized by the method of solution imidization of the polyamic acids prepared from the dianhydride/diamine combinations of 3,3′,4,4′-diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA)/2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy) phenyl] propane (BAPP) (Series A) and 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA)/bis[4-(3-aminophenoxy) phenyl] sulfone (BAPSM) (Series B) with three kinds of w-diamino-poly(dimethylsiloxane) with different number-average molecular weight added as a part of diamine. These polysiloxane-block-polyimides, having various compositions and chain lengths of the polysiloxane segments, were subjected to solution casting to prepare their films, and their surface and interface properties were analyzed by contact angle, XPS, AFM, and SEM. It was found that the surface tension and surface topography were greatly influenced by the composition and molecular weight of the polysiloxane segments because of their surface enrichment, which was affected by the environment and substrate with which the copolyimides had contacted. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2239–2251, 1997     

PERVAPORATION SEPARATION FOR TOLUENE/n-HEPTANE MIXTURE BY POLYIMIDE MEMBRANES CONTAINING FLUORINE

Five kinds of polyimides were synthesized using five dianhydrides (including 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)- phenyl] propane dianhydride (BPADA),3,3',4,4'-diphenylsulfone-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA),4,4'- (hexafluoroisopropylidene)-diphthalic anhydride (6FDA),1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene dianhydride (HQDPA), and 4,4'-oxydiphthlic dianhydride (ODPA)) and 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl] hexafluoropropane (BDAF) via the two- step method that included polyaddition to form the polyamic aci...     

Synthesis and blend behavior of high performance homo- and segmented thermoplastic polyimides

New synthetic methodology was developed as part of an effort to increase the processibility of high Tg polyimide homo⁻ and copolymers, suitable as matrix resins and structural adhesives. Molecular weight and end group control together with solution imidization techniques were successfully employed to convert a variety of poly(amic acid) intermediates to fully cyclized polyimides. The solution imidization was conducted in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) with o-dichlorobenzene used as the azeotroping agent at 165–190°C. This technique has produced products which are more soluble than polyimides prepared previously by bulk thermal cyclization of poly(amic acids) at temperature of 300°C. They are also more stable than “chemically” imidized materials. In addition, incorporation of the monofunctional reagent phthalic anhydride provides nonreactive phthalimide end groups and controlled molecular weight. This latter feature significantly further improved the melt and solution processibility of the resulting polyimides. In this study thermoplastic, fully cyclized polyimides of 10 000, 20 000, and 30 000 M̄n were prepared which displayed glass transition temperatures ranging from 260–353°C, with the highest T_g observed with phthalimide capped polyimide systems derived from 6F-dianhydride and p-phenylene diamine. Tough, transparent films were prepared from polymers of 20 000 and 30 000 g/mol by casting from NMP solution or by compression molding at 50–70°C above the glass transition temperature. For purposes of molecular weight assessment, t-butyl phthalic anhydride was used as the end blocker. This permitted 400 M-Hertz proton NMR to be used for assessing the concentration of end groups. Comparison of the 18 aliphatic protons at the end of the chain allowed M̄n values to be determined, which agreed well with theory. A series of poly(arylene ether ketone)/aromatic polyimide blends were investigated to determine the influence of structural variation and composition on miscibility. As an extension to the PEEK^TM/Ultem^TM blend system, which has been reported to be miscible over all proportions, this study examined how structural variations in both the poly(arylene ether ether ketone) and the polyimide portions affect miscibility. In particular, replacement of the hydroquinone fraction in PEEK^TM with bisphenol A or sulfonyl diphenol produced an amorphous polymer which was no longer miscible with Ultem^TM. Polyimide structures modified by employing 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4′-[1,4-phenylene-bis-(1-methyl ethylidene)] bisaniline (Bis P) diamine to obtain higher glass transition temperatures were also investigated. This system afforded homogeneous blends with PEEK^TM when the (Bis P) diamine was utilized in the synthesis of the polyimide. Furthermore, up to 50 mole percent of hexafluoro-bis-dianhydride (6FDA) could be substituted for BTDA without loss of miscibility. However, when the more polar 3,3′-diaminodiphenylsulfone diamine was employed, immiscible blends resulted. An additional important variant has been to incorporate polyimide siloxane segmented copolymers into the PEEK^TM blend system. The polyimide segment can be designed to be miscible whereas the siloxane portion is homogeneously dispersed into a second phase which, in fact, enriches the surface behavior quite dramatically in siloxane content. The latter could be of some importance in allowing for atomic oxygen resistance and possibly improved flame resistance behavior.     

Molecular composite. I. Novel block copolymers of liquid-crystalline polyamide and amorphous polyimide: Synthesis and characterization

Two series of PA/PI block copolymers have been prepared from a two-pot polycondensation reaction. Acid-terminated poly-p-benzamide (PBA) prepolymer, composed of a rigid-rod structure and lyotropic character, was synthesized by applying the phosphorylation reaction of Yamazaki. On the other hand, two amine-terminated polyimide prepolymers with an amorphous structure were prepared by a typical low-temperature condensation reaction from 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)-bis(phthalic anhydride) (6FDA)/2,2′-bis-(4-aminophenyl)-hexafluoropropane (BAAF) and 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA)/2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-p-phenylene diamine (TMPD). The molecular weight of these prepolymers was determined by intrinsic viscosity or GPC. The copolymerization was carried out by mixing two prepolymer solutions. The products were analyzed by extraction, IR, and η_inh so as to confirm that the copolymerization reaction was precisely accomplished. Thermal analysis and lyotropic behavior were studied for these block copolymers and the critical concentration in NMP–LiCl was found to be 6.0% for one among those block copolymers. The copolymers were observed to form anisotropic liquid-crystalline domains under polarized light once the solutions had been prepared at (and beyond) the critical concentration. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Reactive lyotropic polyimide oligomers

Amine-terminated and maleimide-terminated oligomers of molecular weight 1200–1800 based on 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride were synthesized and characterized for lyotropic liquid crystalline behavior. Several different synthetic procedures were evaluated and a one-step procedure in m-cresol was found to be the most effective for producing fully imidized materials. Lyotropic behavior was observed only for the as-prepared solutions in m-cresol and in dilutions of this solution. Oligomer thermal stability was excellent, onsets of decomposition were in excess of 550°C. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The synthesis of a precursor of polybenzimidazole (PBI) and blends with polyamic acid (PAA)

The precursor of polybenzimidazole (PBI), poly(3,3′-diamino-4,4′-benzidine isophthalamide) (PDABI), was synthesized from poly(3,3′-dinitro-4,4′-benzidine isophthalamide) (PDNBI) by reduction. With increasing temperature, the NH₂ moiety which was protected by SnCl₅^?1 could cyclize and form PBI. Blends with polyamic acid (LaRC-TPI) were prepared. Clear blend films were prepared at up to 400°C. The IR spectra displayed shifts in the NH stretching band, thereby providing evidence for specific interactions related to the miscibility of their cured blends. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Gas‐transport properties of indan‐containing polyimides

A series of indan‐containing polyimides were synthesized, and their gas‐permeation behavior was characterized. The four polyimides used in this study were synthesized from an indan‐containing diamine [5,7‐diamino‐1,1,4,6‐tetramethylindan (DAI)] with four dianhydrides [3,3′4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), 3,3′4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA), (3,3′4,4′‐biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), and 2,2′‐bis(3,4′‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA)]. The gas‐permeability coefficients of these four polyimides changed in the following order: DAI–BTDA < DAI–ODPA < DAI–BPDA < DAI–6FDA. This was consistent with the increasing order of the fraction of free volume (FFV). Moreover, the gas‐permeability coefficients were almost doubled from DAI–ODPA to DAI–BPDA and from DAI–BPDA to DAI–6FDA, although the FFV differences between the two polyimides were very small. The gas permeability and diffusivity of these indan‐containing polyimides increased with temperature, whereas the permselectivity and diffusion selectivity decreased. The activation energies for the permeation and diffusion of O₂, N₂, CH₄, and CO₂ were estimated. In comparison with the gas‐permeation behavior of other indan‐containing polymers, for these polyimides, very good gas‐permeation performance was found, that is, high gas‐permeability coefficients and reasonably high permselectivity. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2769–2779, 2004     

Synthesis of polymer intermediates containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene group via functionalization of 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropane

The title compound was synthesized by hydrogenolysis of its precursor 2,2-bis(4-trifluoromethanesulfonatophenyl)hexafluoropropane ( 2 ) in the presence of a base. 2,2-Diphenylhexafluoropropane ( 6 ) can be appropriately functionalized at the 3,3′-positions to give the diamino ( 7 ), dibromo ( 11 ), dicarboxaldehydo ( 13 ), 3-ethynyl-3′-carboxaldehydo ( 14 ) derivatives which are important monomers in the synthesis of various high-temperatures resistant polymers and oligomers containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene (6F) group. 2,2-Bis(4-triflatophenyl)hexafluoropropane ( 2 ) undergoes quantitative dinitration at the 3,3′-positions to yield 2,2-bis(3-nitro-4-triflatophenyl)hexafluoropropane ( 3 ) which ultimately leads to the 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-bis(arylamino) ( 5 ) and 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-dihydroxy ( 8 ) derivatives which are specifically designed for phenylbenzimidazole, benzimidazoquinazoline, and benzoxazole polymers and oligomers.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated polyimides derived from 1,1′-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane and aromatic dianhydrides

A novel fluorinated aromatic diamine 1,1′-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (6FDAM) was synthesized in a simple procedure, which was then employed to prepare a series of fluorinated polyimides with commercial aromatic dianhydrides, such as pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane (6FDA), 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA). The polyimides exhibited good solubility in strong dipolar solvents such as NMP, DMAc, DMF and m-cresol as well as some of low boiling point organic solvents of THF and CHCl₃, etc. Experimental results indicated the polyimides possessed low moisture adsorptions of 0.42-0.95%, low dielectric constant of 2.71-2.95 at 1 MHz, high dielectric strength of 92.0-122.6 kV/mm and good optical transparency with cutoff wavelengths of UV-vis at 330-375 nm. The polyimides also exhibited good mechanical properties as well as excellent thermal and thermo-oxidative stability. The fluorinated polyimides possessed better solubility, lower dielectric constant and water adsorption as well as higher optical transparency than the representative non-fluorinated polyimide derived from PMDA and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA).     

Ordered porous films based on fluorinated polyimide derived from 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride and 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane

One of fluorinated polyimides was synthesized from 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (DMMDA) by two-steps method, which had good solubility and hydrophilicity. 6FDA-DMMDA polyimide was dissolved in chloroform (CHCl₃) and cast on a glass substrate in a humid atmosphere. It was found that 6FDA-DMMDA/CHCl₃ solution was easy to form ordered porous structure at high concentration, and the reason was discussed in detail. In addition, the influences of solution concentration, the atmosphere humidity, were also tested.     

Effect of chain blockiness on the phase behavior of ethylene‐octene copolymer blends

New challenges and opportunities for polyolefin blends arise from the recent introduction of olefin block copolymers (OBCs). In this study, the effect of chain blockiness on the miscibility and phase behavior of ethylene‐octene (EO) copolymer blends was studied. Binary blends of two statistical copolymers (EO/EO blends) that differed in comonomer content were compared with blends of an EO with a blocky EO copolymer (EO/OBC blends). The blends were rapidly quenched to retain the phase morphology in the melt and the phase volumes were obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Two EOs of molecular weight about 100 kg/mol were miscible if the difference in octene content was less than about 10 mol % and immiscible if the octene content difference was greater than about 13 mol %. The blocky nature of the OBCs reduced the miscibility and broadened the partial miscibility window of the EO/OBC blends compared with the EO/EO blends. The EO/OBC blends were miscible if the octene content difference was less than 7 mol % and immiscible above 13 mol % octene content difference. It was also found that the phase behavior of EO/OBC blends strongly depended on blend composition even for constituent polymers of about the same molecular weight. Significantly more demixing was observed in an OBC‐rich blend (EO/OBC 30/70 v/v) than in an OBC‐poor blend (EO/OBC 70/30 v/v). An interpretation based on extractable fractions of the OBC described the major features of the EO/OBC (30/70 v/v) blends. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1554–1572, 2009     

Synthesis,Structures and Properties of Polyimide Based on 2,2′‐Bis(4‐aminophenoxy phenyl) Propane

2,2‐Bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl] propane (BAPP), as a monomer to prepare polyimide, was synthesized from Bisphenol A and p‐chloronitrobenzene via the nucleophilic substitution reaction. The structures of the diamine monomer BAPP and an intermediate dinitrocompound 2,2′‐bis(4‐nitrophenoxy phenyl) propane (BNPP) were confirmed by FTIR and NMR. A novel polyimide was derived from BAPP and 3,3′,4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA) in DMAc by a two‐step method. FTIR, DSC, TGA, and DMA were employed to characterize the precursor and the polyimide. The glass transition temperature of the polyimide was about 225–230°C. The measurement of mechanical properties indicated that the polyimide exhibited a typical yield behavior of thermoplastic polymers, which is very different from other polyimides. The elongation at break of the polyamic acid and polyimide was 6% and 29%, respectively.     

Synthesis,characterization, and blends of high temperature poly(arylether sulfone)s

The preparation of poly(4-oxy-1,4-phenylenesulfonyl-4,4′-biphenylene-4-sulfonylphenylene) (PBP) has been accomplished by the base mediated, polycondensation reaction between two biphenyl containing monomers. The bisphenol, 4,4′-bis[(4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfonyl]biphenyl (HSB), was reacted with 4,4′-bis[(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-biphenyl (CSB) in tetramethylene sulfone solvent. The highest mechanical properties and glass transition temperature was observed for polymer PBP with a reduced viscosity around 1.0 dL/g. Consequently, the current synthesis route provides polymer with higher properties than other historical preparative routes. Blends of PBP with a different poly(ether sulfone) were miscible based on the observance of a single glass transition temperature. The T_gs of the polymer blends exhibited an unusual positive deviation from the weighted linear averages of the components.     

Miscibility and phase structure of binary blends of polylactide and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Blends of amorphous poly(DL‐lactide) (DL‐PLA) and crystalline poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared by both solution/precipitation and solution‐casting film methods. The miscibility, crystallization behavior, and component interaction of these blends were examined by differential scanning calorimetry. Only one glass‐transition temperature (T_g) was found in the DL‐PLA/PMMA solution/precipitation blends, indicating miscibility in this system. Two isolated T_g's appeared in the DL‐PLA/PMMA solution‐casting film blends, suggesting two segregated phases in the blend system, but evidence showed that two components were partially miscible. In the PLLA/PMMA blend, the crystallization of PLLA was greatly restricted by amorphous PMMA. Once the thermal history of the blend was destroyed, PLLA and PMMA were miscible. The T_g composition relationship for both DL‐PLA/PMMA and PLLA/PMMA miscible systems obeyed the Gordon–Taylor equation. Experiment results indicated that there is no more favorable trend of DL‐PLA to form miscible blends with PMMA than PLLA when PLLA is in the amorphous state. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 23–30, 2003     

Design of postmetallocene Schiff base-like catalytic systems for polymerization of olefins: XII. Synthesis of tetradentate bis-salicylaldehyde imine ligands

Reactions of salicylaldehyde, 3-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde, and 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde with 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,6-diaminohexane, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diamino-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyldiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diamino-5,5′-dicyclopentyl-3,3′-dimethyldiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diamino-5,5′-dicyclohexyl-3,3′-dimethyldiphenylmethane, bis(4-aminophenyl) sulfone, o,o′- and p,p′-diaminodiphenyl ethers, 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene, 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane, and 4,4″-diamino-p-terphenyl gave a series of the corresponding Schiff bases which can be used as tetradentate ligands for the synthesis of titanium and zirconium complexes.     

Surface studies of polyimide thin films via surface-enhanced Raman scattering and second harmonic generation

Two polyimides having the same backbone chemical structure and different pendant side groups at the 2- and 2′-positions of the diamine, the six methylene units capped with 4-cyanobiphenyl end groups and trifluoromethyl, were synthesized (6FDA-6CBO and 6FDA-PFMB). Surface-enhanced Raman scattering and surface optical second harmonic generation measurements show that after rubbing the major change in 6FDA-PFMB surface appears in the orientation of the dianhydride, which was originally planar, but becomes tilted with respect to the surface plane. In the case of 6FDA-6CBO, rubbing also causes the originally planar 4-cyanobiphenyls to tilt away from the surface and assume an azimuthally anisotropic distribution.     

Design and characterization of polymers and polymer blends for high temperature structural applications

Reviewing the development of new polymeric materials for high temperature structural applications (T > 200°C) over the past several decades, reveals a paradox which, to date, has not been completely resolved. Polymers which exhibit very high temperature stability tend to be either intractable or brittle, whereas, easily processible polymers tend to fall short of property targets. Approaches to resolving this paradox include modification of the chain backbone chemistry and polymer blending (especially to form miscible systems). Recent research has shown that, in contrast to low temperature flexible polymers, many high temperature aromatic heterocyclic polymers form miscible systems which permit the design of the desired processibility and performance into the blend. An example of such a system is the blend of Poly(2,2′-(meta-phenylene-5,5′-bibenzimidazole) (PBI) with a series of polyamides, including commercially available polyether imide (PEI) and imide copolymers containing sulfone and fluorinated isopropylidene (6F) units. Other examples include all polyimide blends and blends of polyimides with polyethersulfone.