High-performance fluorinated polyimide/pure silica zeolite nanocrystal hybrid films with a low dielectric constant

Pure silica zeolite nanocrystal particles functionalized with aminopropyl groups (APSZN) were introduced into a 2,2-bis-(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride-2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl polyimide (FPI) matrix to obtain FPI/APSZN hybrid films. The effect of APSZN content on the hybrid films was carefully evaluated in terms of UV-visible transmittance, dielectric constant (κ), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties and thermal degradation behavior. The κ of the FPI/APSZN hybrid film decreases to 2.56 with 7 wt% APSZN. With increasing content of APSZN the tensile strength and the Young's modulus of FPI/APSZN films increase, while the CTE of FPI/APSZN hybrid films decreases. This study provides a novel approach to prepare low-κ FPI hybrids with enhanced properties.