SOLUBLE AROMATIC POLYIMIDES AND POLYAMIDES BASED ON 4,4'-DIAMINOTRIPHENYLMETHANE

Aromatic polyamides and polyimides were synthesized from 4,4'-diaminot riphenylmethane (DA-TPM) for studying their solubility, thermal, and m echanical properties. The polymers were found to be soluble in amide s olvents and pyridine, and this could be attributed to the practically free rotation of the polymer chain segments around the bridging group within the DA-TPM and the effect of its pendant phenyl ring. The polyi mides and polyamides exhibited well-distinguished glass transition in the range of temperatures, which is typical for flexible-chain polymer s. For the polyimides, significant differences in solubility and mecha nical properties were observed between the samples prepared by chemica l and thermal imidization of poly(amic acids). Thermal imidization bro ught about remarkably less soluble brittle films. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.