The effects of long and bulky aromatic pendent groups with flexible linkages on the thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of the polyimides and their nanocomposites with functionalized silica

A novel diamine bis(4-aminophenyl)bis{3,4[(4-(8-quinolyloxymethyl carbonyl)]}methane, containing two long/bulky aromatic pendent chains was synthesized by incorporating aromatic and hetero aromatic groups with flexible linkages. Flexible, stretchable, thermally stable and processable polyimides were prepared by reacting this newly synthesized diamine with commercial tetracarboxylic acid dianhydrides like 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetra carboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4′-(4,4′-isopropylidenediphenoxy)diphthalic Anhydride (BPADA). Nanocomposites of polyimides were prepared using aromatic amine functionalized silica as a filler by solution casting method. The current work investigates the effects of incorporating long/bulky aromatic side chains and flexible linkages on the thermal, mechanical, electrical and optical properties of the polyimides and nanocomposites. The polyimides showed good thermal stability (T(10%) = 364 & 388), high flame resistance, low glass transition temperatures (T(g) = 130 °C & 156 °C), very low dielectric constants (2.5 & 2.8 at 1 MHz) and good optical transparency. The neat polyimides displayed good elongation at break (133–155%) but possessed low tensile strength. The chemically imidized polyimides showed good solubility in low and high boiling solvents. Nanocomposites of polyimides based on aromatic amine functionalized silica exhibited enhanced properties with T(10%) values varying between 409–482 °C, T(g) between 165–280 °C and higher dielectric constants (3–5.7 at 1 MHz).