Synthesis and characterization of diaminophenylindane based polyimides via ester-acid solution imidization

The solution polycondensation of 1-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminoindane (DAPI) with a number of commercially available dianhydrides using the two-step ester-acid solution imidization route is described. High molecular weight polyimides were successfully synthesized from a 1:1 molar ratio of dianhydride to diamine. These film-forming systems have high glass transition temperatures (331-368 degrees C) and very good short-term thermal stability as judged by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The fully cyclized polyimides are also highly soluble in common solvents.