THERMALLY CROSS-LINKABLE POLYIMIDES CONTAINING THE 1,2-DIPHENYLCYCLOPROPANE OR DIPHENYLACETYLENE MOIETY

Poly(ether imide)s containing the 1,2-diphenylcyclopropane or diphenyl acetylene moiety have been synthesized from two new dianhydrides by so lution condensation. Characterization of and crosslinking studies on t hese polymers were carried out utilizing DSC, TGA, and NMR. The polyme rs can be thermally crosslinked when heated above 350 degrees C and th e glass transition temperatures (T-g) of the polymers increase after c rosslinking. The resulting crosslinked networks are insoluble in all s olvents tried. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that no significant we ight loss accompanies the cross-linking reaction. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.