Fluorinated polyimide/POSS hybrid polymers with high solubility and low dielectric constant

A series of fluorinated polyimide/POSS hybrid polymers (FPI-4-FPI-16) were prepared via a facile synthetic route using 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine, 4,4'-oxydiphthalic dianhydride and monofunctional POSS as starting materials. The hybrid polymers showed excellent solubility and film formation ability. Flexible and robust hybrid films could be conveniently obtained via solution-casting. The hybrid films demonstrated low dielectric constants and high thermal stability. Their dielectric constants were in the range of 2.47–2.92 at 1 MHz measured for their capacitance, and were tunable and decreased with an increase of POSS content. Their 10% weight loss temperatures were in the range of 539-591 °C and the weight residual at 800 °C ranged from 48% to 53% in nitrogen atmosphere. These hybrid films also possessed good mechanical properties and hydrophobic characteristics. This work could provide a potential strategy for the preparation of fluorinated polyimide/POSS hybrid polymers.