SYNTHESIS AND THERMAL-PROPERTIES OF ARYL-SUBSTITUTED ROD-LIKE POLYIMIDES

This article describes the synthesis and thermal characterization of novel aryl-substituted rod-like homopolyimides. Synthetic aspects of monomer syntheses and one-step polymer synthesis in m-cresol are presented. Polyimides with rod-like chain structure are based on monophenylated pyromellitic dianhydride (MPPMDA), diphenylated pyromellitic dianhydride (DPPMDA), and as rod-like diamine units on phenylated para-phenylene diamine and 1,1'-binaphthyl-4,4'-diamine. As partial flexible units, which have the possibility to be converted into an extended chain conformation, commercially available 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and 3,4'-oxydianiline (3,4'-ODA) were used. The polyimides were investigated with respect to solution properties and thermal behavior.