Polyimides and Process for Preparing Polyimides Having Thermal-Oxidative Stability

Polyimides and the process for preparing polyimides having improved thermal-oxidative stability derived from the polymerization of effective amounts of one or more of the polyamines such as the aromatic diamines, one or more of the tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and a novel dicarboxylic endcap having formula with an R1 group of either hydrogen or an alkyl radical of one to four carbons, an R2 group of either OH, NH2, F, or Cl radical, an R3 group of either H, OH, NH2, F, Cl or an alkylene radical, an R4 group of either an alkyl, aryl, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical, and/or an R5 group of either H, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical. The polyimides are useful particularly in the preparation of prepegs and PMR composites.