Organosoluble and Light-colored Fluorinated Polyimides from 2,2-Bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]sulfone and Aromatic Dianhydrides

Abstract

A new trifluoromethyl-substituted diamine monomer, 2,2-bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylpenoxy)phenyl]sulfone (II), was prepared through the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride and 4,4’-sulfonyl diphenol in the presence of potassium carbonate, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C. Novel fluorinated polyimides Va–f having inherent viscosities ranging from 0.74 to 1.14 dL/g were synthesized from the diamine II with various aromatic dianhydrides via thermal imidization of poly(amic acid). Most of V series were soluble in the all test solvents, except Vb(H). These polyimide films had strengths at yield of 94–119 MPa, tensile strengths of 90–118 MPa, elongations to break of 10–16%, and initial moduli of 2.0–2.4 GPa. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of these polymers were in the range of 244–297 ○C, their 10% weight loss temperatures were above 520 ○C under ether nitrogen or air atmosphere, and left more than 45 wt% residue even at 800 ○C in nitrogen. Compared with polyimides VII based on 4,4’-bis(3-aminophenoxy)diphenyl sulfone (II’), V showed better solubility and lower color intensity, dielectric constant, and moisture absorption. Their films had cutoff wavelengths between 355–402 nm, b* values ranging from 6.8 to 32.9, dielectric constants of 3.32–4.27 (1 MHz), and moisture absorptions in the range of 0.27–0.62 wt%.