Optimization of foaming process using triblock polyimides with thermally labile blocks

Abstract

Triblock polyamic acid was synthesized from the reaction of amine-terminated polystyrene with 4,40-oxydianiline and pyromellitic dianhydride in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. IR and TGA were used to determine optimum curing conditions, in which imidization was completed and the thermally labile polystyrene block was intact. From the thermomechanical analysis (TMA), it was identified that the resulting triblock polyimide film showed contraction at several points over the temperature range of 50–4008C. The first contraction at 758C and the second at 2758C were due to the residual stresses associated with the polystyrene and polyimide blocks, respectively. The third at 3308C was probably attributed to foam collapse. The structural instability in polyimide matrix induced by the residual stresses was believed to be the reason causing the foam collapse. To overcome such a problem, an annealing process was carried out. The annealed film showed no contraction and, moreover, no foam collapse was observed in the thermomechanical analysis. q2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.