SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF POLYIMIDES FROM 4,4'-BINAPHTHYL-1,1',8,8'-TETRACARBOXYLIC DIANHYDRIDE

4,4'-Binaphthyl-1,1',8,8'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride was synthesized from 4-chloro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride and polymerized with aromatic a nd aliphatic diamines in m-cresol or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP). T he polyimides, except for two derived from p-phenylenediamine and hydr azine, are soluble in 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and NMP. Their intrins ic viscosities ranged from 0.36 to 2.20 dL/g. The polymers showed exce llent thermal and thermooxidative stabilities and displayed weak glass transition temperatures. Young's moduli of some polymer films were in the range of 2.5 and 5.4 GPa at 30 degrees C. The aliphatic polyimide s exhibited a stronger fluorescence than the aromatic polyimides. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.