Polyimides containing oxyethylene units

Four aromatic dinitro compounds containing oxyethylene units 1,2-bis(4-nitrophenoxy)ethane, bis(2)-(4-nitrophenoxy)ethyl ether, 1,2-bis(2)-(4-nitrophenoxy)ethoxy)ethane, and bis(2-(2-(4-nitrophenoxy)ethoxy)ethyl) ether were prepared by an aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction that involved 1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzene and the appropriate oxyethylene glycol. Each of the dinitro compounds could be reduced chemically or catalytically to produce the diamines 1,2-bis(4-aminophenoxy)ethane, bis(2-(4-amino-phenoxy)ethyl ether, 1,2-bis(2-(4-aminophenoxy)ethoxy)ethane, and bis(2-(2-(4-aminophenoxy)ethoxy)ethyl) ether. Polymerization of the diamines was carried out in m-cresol with toluene as an azeotroping agent. Polymides derived from 5,5′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]bis-1,3-isobenzofuradione exhibited good solubility in chlorinated solvents, glass transition temperatures as low as 140°C, as evidenced by viscous flow, and good thermal stability; a 5% weight loss generally occured at greater than 450°C. Isothermal aging studies conducted at 600°F(315°C) for 200 h indicated that weight loss is directly related to oxyalkylene chain length–10% for the shortest and 50% for the longest chain.