Influence of Steric Hindrance Between Hydrogen Atoms of Linkage Groups and Adjacent Phenyls on Properties of Polyimide

A diamine monomer 4,4′-methylenedianiline(MDA) was introduced to modify the polyimide of pyromellitic dianhydride(PMDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline(ODA) by polycondensation. A series of polyamic acids was synthesized from MDA and ODA of different molar ratios with PMDA of sum mole of moles of MDA and ODA, and polyimide films were obtained by thermal imidization. Polyimide(PI) films were characterized by tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA), thermal gravimetry analysis(TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), wide X-ray diffraction(WAXD) and molecular simulation. With the increase of MDA content, the tensile strength and thermal decomposition temperature remained generally stable compared with those of PMDA/ODA polyimide. Unexpectedly, the glass transition temperature(T_g) and Young’s modulus increased from 388.7 ℃ and 2.37 GPa to 408.3 ℃ and 5.74 GPa, respectively. The results of WAXD and molecular simulation indicate the steric hindrance among hydrogen atoms of the linkage groups and adjacent phenyls enhanced the properties of the polyimide modified with MDA.