Colorless and Transparent Polyimide Nanocomposite Films Containing Organoclay

A series of colorless and transparent polyimide (PI) nanocomposite films was synthesized from 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and bis(3-aminophenyl) sulfone (APS) with various organoclay contents via solution intercalation polymerization to poly(amic acid)s, followed by thermal imidization. Varying the organoclay loading in the range of 0 to 1.00 wt% produced variations in the thermal properties, morphologies, and optical transparencies of the hybrids. The hybrid films exhibited high optical transparencies and almost no color, with cut-off wavelengths between 330 and 346 nm and very low yellow index (YI) values of 1.78 similar to 3.80. The hybrid PI films showed good thermal properties with glass transition temperatures of 236,similar to 245 degrees C. Most films did not show significant thermal decomposition below 450 degrees C. It was found that the addition of only a small amount of organoclay was sufficient to improve the thermal properties of the PI films, with maximum enhancements being observed at 0.50 wt% organoclay. Moreover, these PI hybrids also showed low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE).