Synthesis and characterization of soluble random copolyimides

Random copolyimides with different proportions of a diamine component were prepared by polymerizing different compositions of diamines with various dianhydrides and imidized thermally to 260°C. The imidization percent of poly(amic acid) was characterized at various temperatures by infrared spectroscopy. The homopolyimide based on bis[4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone and pyromellitic dianhydride was the only one soluble. By changing the compositions of bis[4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone and other diamines with pyromellitic dianhydride in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, soluble random copolyimides could be prepared. By random copolymerization, the thermal properties and viscosities of homopolyimide could be controlled. All the soluble polyimides prepared in this work were amorphous because of the lack of stereoregularity. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 272–277, 1999