Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Fluoro-Containing Poly(imide-benzoxazole) Nano-Fibrous Membranes with Low Dielectric Constants and High Thermal Stability

The rapid development of advanced high-frequency mobile communication techniques has advanced urgent requirements for polymer materials with high-temperature resistance and good dielectric properties, including low dielectric constants (low-Dk) and low dielectric dissipation factors (low-Df). The relatively poor dielectric properties of common polymer candidates, such as standard polyimides (PIs) greatly limited their application in high-frequency areas. In the current work, benzoxazole units were successfully incorporated into the molecular structures of the fluoro-containing PIs to afford the poly(imide-benzoxazole) (PIBO) nano-fibrous membranes (NFMs) via electrospinning fabrication. First, the PI NFMs were prepared by the electrospinning procedure from organo-soluble PI resins derived from 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxy-phenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and aromatic diamines containing ortho-hydroxy-substituted benzamide units, including 2,2-bis[3-(4-aminobenzamide)-4-hydroxylphenyl]hexafluoropropane (p6FAHP) and 2,2-bis[3-(3-aminobenzamide)-4-hydroxyphenyl]hexafluoropropane (m6FAHP). Then, the PI NFMs were thermally dehydrated at 350 °C in nitrogen to afford the PIBO NFMs. The average fiber diameters (dav) for the PIBO NFMs were 1225 nm for PIBO-1 derived from PI-1 (6FDA-p6FAHP) precursor and 816 nm for PIBO-2 derived from PI-2 (6FDA-m6FAHP). The derived PIBO NFMs showed good thermal stability with the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) over 310 °C and the 5% weight loss temperatures (T5%) higher than 500 °C in nitrogen. The PIBO NFMs showed low dielectric features with the Dk value of 1.64 for PIBO-1 and 1.82 for PIBO-2 at the frequency of 1 MHz, respectively. The Df values were in the range of 0.010~0.018 for the PIBO NFMs.

High-performance all-organic aqueous batteries based on a poly(imide) anode and poly(catechol) cathode

All-organic aqueous batteries based on universal poly(imide) anodes and poly(catechol) cathodes with tunable cell voltage are reported by exploiting different charge carriers (Li+, Zn2+, Al3+, and Li+/H+). A full-cell achieves the highest energy/power density of 80.6 W h kg−1/348 kW kg−1 in Li+/H+.

Preparation and properties of propargyl ether-terminated poly(imide siloxane)s and their composites

The novel propargyl ether-terminated oligo(imide siloxane)s (PTISs) based on 2,2’-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA), aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (APPS), 4,4’-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA) and p-aminophenyl propargyl ether (APPE) were synthesized. The chemical structures of PTISs were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The PTISs exhibited excellent solubility in organic solvent and had broad processing window. The T300 carbon fabric was used to reinforce the PTIS matrices and prepare the composites (T300CF/PTISs). The thermal stability of the cured PTISs was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The dynamic thermal mechanical properties of the composites were measured by dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA). The results show that the temperature at 5% weight loss (Td5) and residual yield at 800°C (Yr800°C) of the cured PTISs in N2 increase with incorporation of the aromatic diamine, whereas the Yr800°C of the cured PTISs in air decreases with introduction of the aromatic diamine. The elasticity of the composite increases with incorporation of the aromatic diamine, and the peak temperature of loss factor for the composites are higher than 300°C. The flexural strength, tensile strength and interlaminar layer shear strength (ILSS) of the T300CF/PTIS composite display the values of 439 MPa, 427 MPa and 32 MPa at room temperature, respectively. The retention of the flexural strength and ILSS for the T300CF/PTIS composite are above 80% at 250°C.

New Poly(imide)s Bearing Alkyl Side-Chains: A Study on the Impact of Size and Shape of Lateral Groups on Thermal, Mechanical, and Gas Transport Properties

A set of five new aromatic poly(imide)s (PIs) incorporating pendant acyclic alkyl moieties were synthesized. The difference among them was the length and bulkiness of the pendant group, which comprises of linear alkyl chains from three to six carbon atoms, and a tert-butyl moiety. The effect of the side group length on the physical, thermal, mechanical, and gas transport properties was analyzed. All PIs exhibited low to moderate molecular weights (Mn ranged between 27.930–58.970 Da, and Mw ranged between 41.760–81.310 Da), good solubility in aprotic polar solvents, except for PI-t-4, which had a tert-butyl moiety and was soluble even in chloroform. This behaviour was probably due to the most significant bulkiness of the side group that increased the interchain distance, which was corroborated by the X-ray technique (PI-t-4 showed two d-spacing values: 5.1 and 14.3 Å). Pure gas permeabilities for several gases were reported (PI-3 (Barrer): He(52); H2(46); O2(5.4); N2(1.2); CH4(1.1); CO2(23); PI-t-4 (Barrer): He(139); H2(136); O2(16.7); N2(3.3); CH4(2.3); CO2(75); PI-5 (Barrer): He(44); H2(42); O2(5.9); N2(1.4); CH4(1.2); CO2(27); PI-6 (Barrer): He(45); H2(43); O2(6.7); N2(1.7); CH4(1.7); CO2(32)). Consistent higher volume in the side group was shown to yield the highest gas permeability. All poly(imide)s exhibited high thermal stability with 10% weight loss degradation temperature between 448–468 °C and glass transition temperature between 240–270 °C. The values associated to the tensile strength (45–87 MPa), elongation at break (3.2–11.98%), and tensile modulus (1.43–2.19 GPa) were those expected for aromatic poly(imide)s.