Synthesis and properties of urethane-modified polyimides

The synthesis and properties of thermoplastic urethane-modified polyimides, based on different isocyanates, with different concentrations of hard segments and different ratios of imide and urethane groups, were studied. The effect of catalysts, isocyanates, and temperature was investigated on model reactions leading to formation of monoimides, bisimides, and polyimides. A polymer based on 2,4-TDI, poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol of 1000 molecular weight and pyromellitic dianhydride, with 75% of imide in the hard segments, retained about 50% of the original tensile strength at 120°C and about 30% at 150°C. Increasing the temperature up to 150°C had very little effect on the elongation of this copolymer. In general, increasing the imide concentration in the polymer structure provided better retention of stress-strain properties at elevated temperatures.