Permeation and sorption for oxygen and nitrogen into polyimide membranes

The permeation rate curves and sorption rate curves of oxygen and nitrogen below 1.3 atm were measured for seven polyimides of which chemical structures were systematically changed. These rate curves were applied Fickian model curves. The Fick's law was found to hold from the pressure independencies of diffusion coefficients for both the experiments. The solubility was better described according to dual-mode sorption model rather than Henry-s law from the sorption experiments. The diffusivities of both the gases were correlated with packing density (reciprocal of specific free volume) of the polymer, except two polyimides. The packing density of these two polymers could not be successfully calculated from Bondi's method. However, all the diffusion coefficients decreased linearly with an increase in the cohesive energy density (CED), which was calculated by the group contribution method of van Krevelen. These results suggest that the gas diffusions in polyimides better correlate with CED than with the packing density. Therefore, the cohesive energy density may be considered as a more reliable indication of the efficient gas separation. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Gas transport properties of asymmetric polyimide membranes prepared by ion‐beam irradiation

Ion beam irradiation has been widely used to modify the structure and properties of membrane surface layers. In this study, the gas permeability and selectivity of an asymmetric polyimide membrane modified by He ion irradiation were investigated using a high vacuum apparatus equipped with a Baratron absolute pressure gauge at 76 cmHg and 35 °C. Specifically, we estimated the effects of the gas diffusion and solubility on the gas permeation properties of the asymmetric membranes with the carbonized skin layer prepared by ion irradiation. The asymmetric polyimide membranes were prepared by a dry–wet phase inversion process, and the surface skin layer on the membrane was irradiated by He ions at fluences of 1 × 10¹⁵ to 5 × 10¹⁵ ions/cm² at 50 keV. The increase in the gas permeability of the He⁺‐irradiated asymmetric polyimide membrane is entirely due to an increase in the gas diffusion, and the gas selectivity increases of the membranes were responsible for the high gas diffusion selectivities. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 262–269, 2007.     

Gas barrier behavior of polyimide films filled with synthetic chrysotile nanotubes

Chrysotile nanotubes (ChNTs) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. These synthetic nanotubes crystallographically and morphologically mimic the nanofibrils of natural white asbestos but they are considerably shorter. ChNTs containing polyimide nanocomposites were prepared by a solution mixing/casting method. Oxygen and water vapor barrier of the nanocomposite films were tested and related to the amount, dispersion, and orientation of the nanotubes. The dispersion and orientation of the nanotubes were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanotubes were nanodispersed and oriented in the plane of the film in the nanocomposites with up to 4.5% (vol/vol) of ChNTs leading to a gradual increase of the gas barrier. The lowest gas permeability was 60% smaller than that for the pristine polyimide film. However, with the onset of nanotube micro aggregation at larger ChNTs loadings the nanotube dispersion and orientation were compromised and oxygen barrier was reduced. The efficacy of nanotubes to enhance polymer gas barrier was discussed and compared with that by nanoplatelets. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1184–1193     

The preparation of novel silica modified polyimide membranes: synthesis,characterization, and gas separation properties

In this study, new monomers having siloxane groups were synthesized as an intermediate for preparation of siloxane modified polyimide polymers. Then with these monomers, the synthesis of uncrosslinked and crosslinked polyimide–siloxane hybrid polymer membranes were achieved. The purposes of the preparation of modified polyimides were to modify the thermal and chemical stability, and mechanical strength of polyimides, and to improve the gas separation properties of polymers. The new diamine monomer having siloxane groups was prepared from 3,5‐diaminobenzoic acid (3,5‐DABA) and 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3‐APTMS) in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrollidone (NMP) at 180°C. The modified polyimide membranes having different amount of siloxane groups were synthesized from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 4,4‐oxydianiline (ODA), and 3,5‐diaminobenzamido‐N‐propyltrimethoxy silane (DABA/PTMS) in NMP using a two‐step thermal imidization process. The synthesis of modified polyimide membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal analysis of the polyimides were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Water absorption and swelling experiments were also carried out for the investigation of structural properties of polymers. FTIR observations confirmed that the polyimide membranes with new diamine intermediate were successfully obtained. Thermal analysis showed that the uncrosslinked copolyimides exhibited two glass transition temperatures, indicating that they were separated microphases and it was found that all the modified copolyimides had showed higher glass transition temperature (T_g) than unmodified polyimides. The separation properties of the prepared polyimide membranes were also characterized by permeability for O₂ and N₂ gases and ideal selectivity values were calculated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization and gas permeability of a three-component polyimide series

Packing density and gas permeability of a three-component copolymide series is presented. The three-component polyimides are prepared a via “stepwise” synthesis procedure that goes through the acid anhydride terminated pre-polymer. The procedure ensures the statistical distribution of segments of the polymers. The polyimide series is composed of contrasting segments: a bulky and rigid hexafluoroisopropylidene-2,2-bis(phthalic acid anhydride)/9,9,-bis(4-aminophenyl)fluorene and a flexible hexafluoroisopropylidene-2-2-bis(phthalic acid anhydride)/2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane, with varying segment ratio. Generation of additional free volume by compolymerizing two segments is observed. The permeability of six pure gases—He, H₂, N₂, O₂, CH₄, and CO₂—to the polymides showed positive deviation from the simple additivity rule of segment weight ratio reflecting the generation of free volume. However, a conflicting result between free volume fraction and gas permeability is observed, which may be due to a difference of the nature of free volume of each segment. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal and hydrolytic stability of sulfonated polyimide membranes with varying chemical structure

Many important properties required for fuel cell applications including hydrolytic stability, depend on various factors like flexibility of the polymer backbone, ring structure and phase separation. This paper is primarily focused on studying the effect of the chemical backbone structure on the hydrolytic stability and other properties. To study the difference in the hydrolytic stability with change in the chemical backbone structure of sulfonated polyimides we synthesized phthalic sulfonated polyimides and naphthalenic sulfonated polyimides. Two series of phthalic sulfonated polyimides were prepared using 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and 4,4′-methylene dianiline (MDA), and 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidine) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and oxydianiline (ODA). 4,4′-Diaminobiphenyl-2,2′-disulfonic acid (BDSA) was used to introduce sulfonic acid group into both series. Naphthalenic polyimides were synthesized from 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetra-carboxylic dianhydride, BDSA, MDA and ODA. Also to observe other properties according to variation of sulfonic acid content, the degree of functionalisation was effectively controlled by altering the mole ratio between the sulfonated and non-sulfonated diamine monomers in phthalic sulfonated polyimides. The hydrolytic stability of the polyimides was followed by FT-IR spectroscopy at regular intervals. Polyimides prepared using naphthalenic dianhydride, NTDA, exhibited higher hydrolytic stability than the phthalic dianhydrides. The proton conductivity, ion exchange capacity (IEC) and water uptake measurements revealed the dependence on the molecular weight of the repeating unit. The proton conductivity of the sulfonated polyimides was found to vary with chemical backbone structure.     

Interrelation between phase state and gas permeation in polysulfone/polyimide blend membranes

The phase state of polysulfone/polyimide (PSF/PI) blends has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry, rheology, and X-ray scattering. The blends rich in PSF form miscible blends when prepared by solution casting from a common solvent. In these PSF-rich blends, the single dynamic process in rheology shifts and broadens, with composition reflecting the change in local friction and the enhancement of concentration fluctuations, respectively. Heating to temperatures above the glass transition temperature results in phase separation into PSF- and PI-rich domains. An apparent phase diagram has been constructed, and helium permeability has been measured in different regimes corresponding to miscible, partially miscible, and completely phase-separated states. We find that one component (PI) controls the permeability values and activation energies for helium permeation in the blends. Gas permeation is found to be very sensitive to local concentration fluctuations and thus can be used as a probe of the phase state in polymer blends. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2788–2798, 1999     

Preparation and optical properties of polyimide films linked with porphyrinato Pd (II) and Pt (II) complexes through a triazine ring and application toward oxygen sensors

5‐(3‐Aminophenyl)‐10,15,20‐tri(4‐methylphenyl) porphyrinato Pd (II) and Pt (II) complexes ( 2a ‐ Pd ) and ( 2a ‐ Pt ), respectively, were prepared from 5‐(3‐nitrophenyl)‐10,15,20‐tri(4‐methyl‐phenyl)porphyrin via two‐step reactions, and reacted with cyanuric chloride to produce corresponding porphyrin derivatives ( 3a ‐ Pd ) and ( 3a ‐ Pt ) with a dichlorotriazine ring. Aromatic polyimides were prepared using diamine ( 4 ); triazine dichlorides having porphyrin units ( 3a ‐ Pd ), ( 3a ‐ Pt ), ( 3c ‐ Pd ), and ( 3c ‐ Pt) ; fluoro‐functionality 6‐(p‐perfluorononenyl oxyanilino)triazine‐2,4‐dichloride ( 6 ); and tetracarboxylic dianhydride ( 5 ) in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) at an elevated temperature up to 300 °C. The resulting viscous polymeric solution was cast on a glass plate, affording well‐proportioned reddish transparent films with number‐average molecular weights of 25,000–38,000. Glass transition temperatures of the polymers were ～230 °C; the films were stable up to 400 °C in air. The film emission spectra showed a broad peak ～670 nm, similar to those of porphyrins ( 2a ‐ Pd ) and ( 2a ‐ Pt ) dispersed in a polystyrene matrix. While the luminescence of these polymer films was quenched with oxygen, it rapidly recovered under a deoxygenated atmosphere. The polyimide film sensitivity to oxygen was higher under low oxygen concentrations than those of porphyrins ( 2a ‐ Pd ) and ( 2a ‐ Pt ) dispersed in polystyrene. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1086–1094     

Structural characterization of silica modified polyimide membranes

Polyimide and hybrid polyimide‐siloxane were synthesized by polycondensation, imidization, and sol‐gel reaction. The polyimides were prepared from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4‐oxydianiline (ODA) in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrollidone (NMP). Trimethoxyvinyl silane (TMVS) was used as a source of silica. Their surface morphologies, structures and thermal performances were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the silica particles were finely and rather homogeneously dispersed in polymers. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of hybrid membrane materials increased with the increasing silica content. TGA analysis showed that polyimides were thermally stable with silica. Modified polyimide‐siloxane films, thermal characteristics were found to be better than the polyimide films without silica. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water vapor sorption in naphthalenic sulfonated polyimide membranes

The water vapor uptake of sulfonated polyimides (SP) was investigated by electronic microbalance (IGA, Hiden) from 15 to 55°C. The sigmoïdal isotherms obtained (BET II type) are considered as dual sorption (concave part) plus clustering (convex part) and are fitted with good agreement by Park’s equation. Zimm–Lundberg’s method is used to study the clustering process of water molecules: limit clustering activity, a^*, and the number of molecules per cluster are estimated.

To obtain a better understanding of polymer structure and isotherm analysis, H⁺ (counter-ions of sulfonic groups) were replaced by ions with a smaller hydration shell (Cs⁺ and EDAH⁺). Comparison of the three isotherms shows no significant difference in the water affinity of the cations. This is attributed to a partial control of the sorption by microcavities existing in the membrane.     

Anisotropy in optical transmittance and molecular chain orientation of silver- dispersed uniaxially drawn polyimide films

The anisotropy in optical transmittance in the visible and near-infrared region observed for uniaxially drawn and silver-dispersed polyimide (PI) films was investigated. The films were prepared in a one-step operation that consists of thermal curing and simultaneous uniaxial drawing of poly(amic acid) (PAA) films dissolving 5.7 ∼ 20 mol% of silver nitrate. The PAA was converted to PI by heating, and the PI chains were orientated along the drawing direction during curing. Silver nanoparticles were precipitated in the films when they were cured in air and under nitrogen. In particular, silver nanoparticles aggregated along drawing direction and spheroidal nanoparticles (size of longer axis: 10–25 nm, aspect ratio: ca. 1.5) were observed in the films cured in air, and distinct anisotropy in optical transmittance was observed. The maximum optical anisotropy was obtained with a specific holding time at the final curing temperature (320 °C). In addition, the anisotropy can be controlled by polymer chain orientation when films are cured with the optimal holding time. In optimized preparing conditions, anisotropies in transmittance larger than 500 : 1 were obtained at the wavelengths between 700 and 900 nm, and its optical properties were retained after annealing at 150 °C for 1 hr. The PI films thus obtained can be used as thermally stable thin-film polarizers. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermally stable polyimide isomers for membrane-based gas separations at elevated temperatures

The temperature dependence of gas sorption and transport properties is examined for two polyimide isomers. The permeabilities and solubilities of five gases in these materials are reported over an extensive temperature range from 35 to 325°C. Also, the activation energies for permeation, the heats of sorption, and the activation energies for diffusion obtained for both polyimides are compared and correlated with physical properties of the polymers and penetrants. The influence of temperature on the selective properties of these membrane materials is discussed for three gas separations; He/N₂, CO₂/CH_4, and O₂/N_2. Thorough analysis of these data provides insight into the influence of the subtle difference in chain structure of the two isomers. The performance of the 6FDA-6F_p DA as a separation membrane at high temperatures suggests that it is an outstanding candidate for use in novel elevated temperature applications. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Suppression of CO2-plasticization by semiinterpenetrating polymer network formation

CO₂-induced plasticization may significantly spoil the membrane performance in high-pressure CO₂/CH₄ separations. The polymer matrix swells upon sorption of CO₂, which accelerates the permeation of CH₄. The polymer membrane looses its selectivity. To make membranes attractive for, for example, natural gas upgrading, plasticization should be minimized. In this article we study a polymer membrane stabilization by a semiinterpenetrating polymer network (s-ipn) formation. For this purpose, the polyimide Matrimid 5218 is blended with the oligomer Thermid FA-700 and subsequently heat treated at 265°C. Homogeneous films are prepared with different Matrimid/Thermid ratios and different curing times. The stability of the modified membrane is tested with permeation experiments with pure CO₂ as well as CO₂/CH₄ gas mixtures. The original membrane shows a minimum in its permeability vs. pressure curves, but the modified membranes do not indicating suppressed plasticization. Membrane performances for CO₂/CH₄ gas mixtures showed that the plasticizing effect indeed accelerates the permeation of methane. The modified membrane clearly shows suppression of the undesired methane acceleration. It was also found that just blending Matrimid and Thermid was not sufficient to suppress plasticization. The subsequent heat treatment that results in the s-ipn was necessary to obtain a stabilized permeability. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1547–1556, 1998     

Photochemically induced oxidative surface modification of polyimide films

Polyimide membranes that contain both the phthalimide chromophore and abstractable hydrogens undergo photochemically-induced oxidative surface modification when they are irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light for 0.5–30 min in air. The reaction requires 200–300 nm light and the presence of oxygen, and the surface-modified membranes show much higher oxygen/nitrogen selectivities than the untreated films. A mechanism for the photochemical reaction that is based on the photochemistry of structurally-similar monomeric phthalimides is proposed. The observed selectivity increases can also be explained by this mechanism. © 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 and properties of novel regioirregular polyimides from easily synthesized asymmetrical dichlorophthalimide monomers

New asymmetrical aromatic dichlorophthalimide monomers containing pendant groups (trifluoromethyl or methyl) were conveniently prepared from inexpensive and commercially available compounds. With these monomers, a new class of soluble polyimides with a regioirregular structure within the polymer backbone was obtained by the Ni(0)‐catalyzed polymerization method. The structures of the polymers were confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques. The polyimides displayed better solubility and higher thermal stability than the corresponding regular polyimides. In addition, fluorinated polyimides in this study had low dielectric constants ranging from 2.52 to 2.78, low moisture absorptions of less than 0.59%, and low thermal expansion coefficients between 10.6 and 19.7 ppm/°C. The oxygen permeability coefficients and permeability selectivity of oxygen to nitrogen of the films were in the ranges of 2.99–4.20 barrer and 5.55–7.50, respectively. We have demonstrated that the synthetic pathway for polyimides provides a successful approach to increasing the solubility and processability of polyimides without sacrificing their thermal stability. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3550–3561, 2007     

Preparation of mixed matrix membranes based on polyimide and aminated graphene oxide for CO2 separation

The aminated graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the functionalization of pristine GO with ethylenediamine and then dispersed into the poly(amic acid) (the precursor of polyimide [PI]) solution followed by the chemical imidization to successfully fabricate the PI/amine‐functionalized GO mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) using in‐situ polymerization method. Chemical structure and morphology of the GO before and after amine modification were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectrum, Fourier transform infrared, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that fine dispersion of GO throughout PI matrix was achieved, which indicates that the in‐situ polymerization approach can enhance the interfacial interaction between the GO and the PI matrix, and then improve the dispersion of carbon material in the polymer matrix. Compared with the conventional solution mixture method, the MMMs prepared with in‐situ polymerization method showed excellent CO₂ permeability and CO₂/N₂ selectivity. The MMMs doped with 3 wt.% aminated GO exhibited maximum gas separation performance with a CO₂ permeability of 12.34 Barrer and a CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 38.56. These results suggest that the amino groups on GO have strong interaction with the CO₂ molecules, which can significantly increase the solubility of polar gas. Our results provide an easy and efficient way to prepare MMMs with good mechanical behavior and excellent gas separation performance.     

Crosslinked sulfonated polyimide networks as polymer electrolyte membranes in fuel cells

Sulfonated polyimides with tertiary nitrogen in the polymer backbone were synthesized with 1,4,5,8‐naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′‐diaminobiphenyl 2,2′‐disulfonic acid, 2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane, and diaminoacrydine hemisulfate. They were crosslinked with a series of dibromo alkanes to improve the hydrolytic stability. The crosslinked sulfonated polyimide films were characterized for their thermal stability, ion‐exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, hydrolytic stability, and proton conductivity. All the sulfonated polyimides had good thermal stability and exhibited a three‐step degradation pattern. With an increase in the alkyl chain length of the crosslinker, IEC decreased as 1.23 > 1.16 > 1.06 > 1.01, and the water uptake decreased as 7.29 > 6.70 > 6.55 > 5.63. The order of the proton conductivity of the crosslinked sulfonated polyimides at 90 °C was as follows: polyimide crosslinked with dibromo butane (0.070) > polyimide crosslinked with dibromo hexane (0.055) > polyimide crosslinked with dibromo decane (0.054). The crosslinked polyimides showed higher hydrolytic stability than the uncrosslinked polyimides. Between the crosslinked polyimides, the hydrolytic stability decreased with an increase in the alkyl chain length of the crosslinker. The crosslinked and uncrosslinked sulfonated polyimides exhibited almost the same proton conductivities. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2370–2379, 2005     

Enhancement on the permeation performance of polyimide mixed matrix membranes by incorporation of graphene oxide with different oxidation degrees

Graphene oxide (GO) with different oxidation degrees were synthesized by harsh oxidation of graphite using the improved Hummers method. The GO/polyimide (PI) mixed matrix membrane was successfully fabricated by in situ polymerization of PI monomers (3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether) with GO. The structure of GO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermal gravimetric analysis–differential thermal analysis. The performance of different GO/PI mixed matrix membranes was evaluated by permeation experiments of CO₂/N₂ gas mixture (volume ratio, 1:9). Results showed that more polar functional groups were introduced to GO with the increase in oxidation degree of GO in the preparation process, producing fewer layers and more translucent structures. GO with higher oxidation degree has significant effect on its dispersion in the N,N‐dimethylacetamide solvent and polymer matrix materials. The permeability of GO/PI hybrid membranes for CO₂ and N₂ increased. The CO₂/N₂ permeation selectivity of membranes exhibited a trend of initial increase, followed by a decrease, with the increase in oxidation degree, when the same amount of GO was added. For GO with the same oxidation degree, the permeability and permeation selectivity of hybrid membrane initially increased, and then decreased with the addition content of GO. In the case of hybrid membrane containing 1 wt% monolayer GO, the maximum permeability and permeation selectivity of hybrid membranes for CO₂ were 14.3 and 4.2 times more than that of PI membrane without GO, respectively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microdeformation in thin films of 3FDA/PMDA polyimide and polyimide nanofoams

Transmission electron microscopy has been used to investigate the microdeformation behavior of thermally imidized thermoplastic pyromellitic dianhydride/1,1-bis(4-amino-phenyl)-1-phenyl-2,2,2 trifluoroethylene (3FDA/PMDA) polyimide films with a T_g of ～ 440°C, prepared by solution casting of a polyamic ester precursor. Failure of the films at room temperature was by unstable cracking at about 5% strain, accompanied by homogeneous shear deformation at the crack tips. As the temperature was raised to above 100°C, zones of mixed shear and crazing were observed, and a stick-slip mode of cracking. Above about 300°C shear was once again the dominant deformation mechanism and the films became fully ductile. In films containing porosity on a scale of a few nanometers, prepared by thermal degradation/imidization of a 3FDA/PMDA/poly α-methyl styrene graft copolymer, film failure at room temperature was also by unstable cracking, but a zone of multiple craze-like features was observed at crack tips, rather than a single shear deformation zone. The increase in extent of this zone of craze-like features as the temperature was raised was again associated with an increase in crack stability. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.