Preparation and properties of organosoluble montmorillonite polyimide hybrid materials

Organosoluble montmorillonite/polyimide hybrids were prepared using a monom er solution intercalation polymerization method. Montmorillonite was organo -treated with p-aminobenzoic acid and the organosoluble polyimide was based on pyromellitic dianhydride and 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dimethyldiphenylmethane. The particle size of montmorillonite in the hybrid containing 1 wt % of mo ntmorillonite is about 400 nm. The strength and the toughness of montmorill onite/polyimide hybrids are improved simultaneously when the montmorillonit e content is below 5 wt %. The thermal stabilities of montmorillonite/polyi mide hybrids are obviously improved and their thermal expansion coefficient s are reduced. When the montmorillonite content is below 5 wt %, the montmo rillonite/polyimide hybrids are soluble in strong aprotonic polar organic s olvents. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.