Ferromagnetism in Thermally Decomposed Polyimide Films

Magnetic resonance studies of polyimide films thermally decomposed in flowing N₂ at 520°C reveal the presence of two very different magnetic resonance spectra at room temperature. One spectra is a sharp temperature independent paramagnetic resonance line having a g value of 1.990, typical of a free radical. The other much broader line centered at lower field displays a marked broadening and shift to lower magnetic field as the temperature is lowered, characteristic of a ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) signal. Measurements of the AC susceptibility as a function of magnetic field strength confirm the existence of ferromagnetism at room temperature. Magnetic force microscope (MFM) imaging at room temperature show evidence of long thin ferromagnetic regions in the decomposed polymer.