New Soluble Polyimides with High Optical Transparency and Light Color Containing Pendant Trifluoromethyl and Methyl Groups

Abstract

AbstractA new aromatic diamine containing trifluoromethyl and methyl groups, namely α,α‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐methylphenyl)‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethane (1), was synthesized from 2‐methylaniline and 4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde. A series of fluorinated polyimides (PIs) were prepared from the diamine with four commercially available aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides using a one‐step high‐temperature polycondensation procedure. These obtained PIs showed excellent solubility, with the dissolvability at a concentration of 10 wt% in most solvents, and they could afford flexible and strong films. Thin films of these PIs exhibited high optical transparency and light color, with the cutoff wavelength at 324–357 nm and transmittance higher than 74% at 450 nm. Moreover, these PIs possessed eminent thermal stability and good mechanical properties.