Isomer effects on polyimide properties

Thermally stable polyimide polymers were prepared. Parameters explored include asymmetry of substitution, addition of alkyl substituents to an aromatic ring, and an increase in the number of aromatic rings present in the diamine monomer. It is shown that the use of an asymmetrical diamine in the preparation of a polyimide produces a polymer with a markedly lowered glass transition temperature. This is achieved with little or no sacrifice of thermal stability. An alternate approach taken was to prepare imide monomers which are capable of addition-type polymerization.