Oligomeric poly(ether-imide)s bearing ortho trifluoromethyl groups: Solubility, thermal studies, and optical properties

In the development of processable high-temperature materials, six new aromatic poly(imide)s based on diamines containing ortho trifluoromethyl groups, ether linkages and R,R-methylenes moieties (R = Me or Ph) and previously reported dianhydrides have been synthesized vía polycondensation reactions. All polymers were obtained with good yields, were soluble in a variety of polar aprotic solvents, and exhibited inherent viscosity (η_inh) values between 0.15 and 0.20 dL g⁻¹, which is indicative of low molecular-weight species. Preliminary studies of their physical properties were carried out. The new materials were transparent in the visible region and they exhibited thermal decomposition temperatures ranging from 475 to 545 °C and glass-transition temperatures varying from 288 to 304 °C.