Low-Tg polyimides containing multiple ether linkages and cyano pendants

Some multi-ether linked polyimides (PIs) derived from two diamine monomers containing various amount of cyano groups are synthesized by a typical two-step polymerization. Meanwhile, the PIs with similar chemical structure but without cyano groups are prepared as counterparts for comparison purposes. The obtained PIs exhibit low glass transition temperature values of 211–258°C, which are associated with their multi-ether chemical structure. Furthermore, these PIs have high thermal stability, and the temperatures at 10% weight loss are in the range of 524–616°C under nitrogen atmosphere. It is found that the introduction of cyano groups would have a great influence on the properties of the PIs. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of one cyano-containing PI reach 121 MPa and 1.4 GPa, respectively, which are much higher than those cyano-free ones. In addition, the cyano-containing PIs exhibit different behaviors of dielectricity and solubility in comparison with the corresponding cyano-free counterparts.