Soluble and light‐colored polyimides from 2,3,2′,3′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride and aromatic diamines

Abstract

AbstractA series of polyimides were prepared from 2,3,2′,3′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (3,3′‐ODPA) with various aromatic diamines via three different synthetic procedures. The one‐step and two‐step methods with the thermal imidization of poly(amic acids) (PAAs) yielded polyimides with a relatively low inherent viscosity; these produced brittle films. The polyimides prepared by the two‐step method via the chemical imidization of PAA precursors exhibited a higher inherent viscosity and afforded tough and creaseable films. All the 3,3′‐ODPA based polyimides had a significantly higher solubility than the corresponding polyimides from 3,4,3′,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride. The films cast from 3,3′‐ODPA polyimides also showed high optical transparencies and less color, with an ultraviolet–visible absorption edge of 370–397 nm and low yellowness index values of 11.3–29.8. These polyimides exhibited glass‐transition temperatures in the range 211–289°C and showed no significant decomposition below 500°C under nitrogen or air atmospheres. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1352–1360, 2005