Novel organo-soluble poly(ether imide)s based on diethyltoluenediamine: Synthesis, characterization and gas transport properties

Abstract

Novel dianhydrides containing bromine substituents were developed. Series of poly(ether imide)s (PEIs) using diethyltoluenediamine (DETDA) and several bis(ether anhydride)s containing bulky methyl, cyclohexylidene, isopropylidene, hexafluoroisopropylidene and bromine fragments was prepared by one-pot synthesis in benzoic acid. Chemical structures were confirmed by FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. All PEIs demonstrated great solubility in organic solvents. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymers were in the range of 6.1–11.3 × 104 g/mol. PEIs showed glass transition temperature in the range of 285–315 °C according to DSC. Furthermore, PEIs demonstrated great thermal stability with degradation temperature (Td5%) higher 432 °C. Polymer films have good mechanical properties with tensile strength up to 91.6 MPa and elongation at break up to 89.4%. Correlation between the chemical structure and gas transport properties was investigated.