Colorless poly(ester imide)s derived from hydrogenated trimellitic anhydride

Tetracarboxylic dianhydrides were synthesized from hydrogenated trimellitic anhydride (HTA) and some diols to obtain novel poly(ester imide)s (PEsIs). The HTA-derived tetracarboxylic dianhydrides showed much higher reactivity with various diamines than conventional cycloaliphatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and led to PEsI precursors with high molecular weights (M_w). The results can be explained in terms of a spacer effect. The PEsI films were essentially colorless regardless of diol and diamine components owing to inhibited charge-transfer interactions. The HTA-derived PEsIs also exhibited excellent combined properties: relatively high glass transition temperatures (T_g), relatively low water absorption (W_A), and relatively low dielectric constants. The outstanding processability (thermoplasticity and solubility) observed for the HTA-derived PEsIs was discussed on the basis of a non-planar/bent structure at the HTA-based imide units. The use of a fluorene-containing diol component was effective for enhancing T_g’s by restricted internal rotation and for reducing W_A by a decreased imide group content. On the other hand, the use of 4,4′-biphenol as another diol gave rise to a prominent toughening effect without sacrificing other target properties. One of the HTA-derived PEsI systems can be a promising candidate as plastic substrates because of its excellent combined properties: a high T_g close to 300 °C, high optical transparency, significant toughness (elongation at break > 100%), and good thermo- and solution-processability.