Synthesis and Characterization of New Thermoplastic Poly(ester-ether-imide) Elastomers Derived from N′,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-Pyromellitimide Unit with Excellent Thermal Stability and Good Fiber-Forming Property

A series of new poly(ester-ether-imide)s (PEEIs) with potential low and high temperature application as elastomers were obtained by melting polycondensation of 1,4-butanediol (BD), dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG1000) and imide dihydric alcohol based on pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and ethanolamine (EOA). The purity of imide dihydric alcohol was characterized by elemental analysis. The structures of imide dihydric alcohol and PEEIs were confirmed by FT-IR and 1H-NMR. The intrinsic viscosities, solubility, thermal properties, mechanical properties and low temperature elastic recovery of these polymers were investigated. The results show that the PEEIs have good solubility, and introduction of imide group endows the PEEIs with excellent thermal stability and good low temperature elastic recovery properties. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of PEEIs are also improved.