Preparation and properties of processable polyimides having bulky pendent ether groups

Abstract

A series of aromatic diamines containing pendent methoxy, phenoxy, and biphenoxy moieties were synthesized. By the reaction of diamines with 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), several kinds of polyimides having bulky pendent ether groups were synthesized. Thermal properties and processability such as melt processability and solubility in organic solvents of obtained polyimides were investigated by focusing on the chemical structures of their repeating structure units. It was found that the thermal stability and melt processability of the polyimides did not strongly depend on the existence of bulky pendent phenoxy and biphenoxy moieties. Their solubility in organic solvents, however, was improved by introducing the bulky pendent ether groups such as methoxy, phenoxy, and biphenoxy moieties into their repeating structure units. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 971–978, 1998