Synthesis and characterization of organosoluble aliphatic-aromatic copolyimides based on cycloaliphatic dianhydride

A series of aliphatic-aromatic polyimides have been synthesized. These polyimides were prepared by high-temperature polycondensation of the aliphatic diamines: 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,6-diaminohexane, 1,7-diaminoheptane, 1, 9-diaminononane, 1,10-diaminodecane, 1,12-diaminododecane and 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-dimethylaniline) with 1,2,3, 4-cyclopentanetetracarboxylic dianhydride. Various ratios of diamines (aromatic:aliphatic) have been applied for preparation of copolyimides. Polycondensation proceeded at 190 degreesC and produced copolyimides with reduced viscosities up to 0.92 dl/g. The polyimides were soluble in a wide range of organic, common solvents and showed high-thermal stability. In most cases these polymers formed flexible films which presented excellent transparency. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.