Synthesis and properties of fluoro-polyetherimides

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science 2000-06, Vol.40 (6), p.1318-1329
• Main Authors: Vora, Rohitkumar H., Goh, Suat Hong, Chung, Tai-Shung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers with particular properties; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.11260

A series of amorphous fluoro‐polyetherimides based on 2,2′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and di‐ether‐containing diamines 4,4′‐bis(3‐aminophenoxy)diphenyl sulfone (m‐SED), 4,4′‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)diphenyl sulfone (p‐SED), 4,4′‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)diphenyl propane (BPADE) were synthesized. These melt processable polyetherimide polymers from p‐SED and BPADE showed excellent electrical properties. The dielectric constants, 2.74 and 2.65 at 10 MHz respectively, are lower than commercially available polyetherimide ULTEM® 1000, and polyimide Kapton® H films. In addition, we found that trifluoromethyl groups‐containing polyimides not only show extraordinary electrical properties, but they also exhibit excellent long‐term thermo‐oxidative stability and reduced water absorption relative to non‐fluorinated polyimides. The weight retention of these fluoro‐polyetherimides at 315°C for 300 h in air varies from 93% to 98%. Whereas, their moisture absorption at 100 RH at 50°C was in the range of 0.3% to 1.05%, which is much lower than those of Ultem 1000 and Kapton H. In the case of fluoro‐polyetherimides from p‐SED and m‐SED (para and meta isomers) diamines with ‘ether’ and sulfonyl (‐SO2‐) spacer groups, the d‐spacing and Tg values decreased from 4.72Å to 4.56Å and 293°C to 244°C respectively. Similarly, the transparency of these polymer films (in the range of 80% to 90%) at 500 nm solar wavelength was higher than Ultem 1000 and Kapton H.