Thermal degradation of the polyimide synthesized from 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic dianhydride and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane

Abstract

Abstract The thermal degradation of polyimide PIF2 synthesized from 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic dianhydride and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane was systematically and thoroughly investigated by high‐resolution pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The pyrolyzates of PIF2 were dependent on the pyrolysis temperature. Two weight‐loss peaks were observed in the derivative thermogravimetric analysis of PIF2 and the first peak was related to the fluorine‐containing segment (hexafluoroisopropylidene). The overall activation energy and preexponential factor were calculated through dynamic TGA with Ozawa's method. Based on the results, a thermal degradation mechanism of the PIF2 was proposed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2295–2301, 2004