MODIFIER AND POLYMER INTERACTIONS IN METAL-MODIFIED POLYIMIDE COMPOSITES

A sulfur-containing polyimide precursor has been modified by the homogeneous addition of tris(2,4-pentanedionato)iron(III) or tris(1-phenyl-2,4-pentanedionato)iron(III). The synthesis of the resulting free-standing film of iron-modified polyimide via thermal condensation is also described. It was observed that the presence of iron promoted the oxidation of the thioether moiety in the polyimide backbone as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The effect of cure atmosphere on the oxidation of the sulfur, the thermal properties of the composite, and the distribution of iron oxide particles within the free-standing film are also examined.