THERMAL CHARACTERIZATION OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE PBI AND 6F POLYMERS AND THEIR ALLOYS

The effectiveness of thermal analysis as a technique for screening polymeric candidates for high temperature composite applications is described. DSC, DMA, and TGA were employed to measure glass transition temperature, characterize blend phase morphology, and assess thermo-oxidative stability. The materials studied were polybenzimidazole (PBI), polyimide copolymer (6FCoPI), and blends of PBI with Ultem 1000Tm and 6FCoPI. The potential of misinterpretation of thermal analysis as the primary screening tool was also demonstrated. It was shown that if thermal analysis was used with insufficient understanding of the chemistry and physics of the materials under investigation, highly misleading conclusions may be derived.