Chemical durability of polyimide blend films

The chemical durability of blends based on pyromellitic dianhydride-oxydian iline (PMDA-ODA) and benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride-oxydianiline (BTDA-ODA) polyimides with nylon 6 is described. The stabilities of the ble nd films in cone. H2SO4 and in 40% aqueous NaOH are equivalent to that of t he control film and slightly better than commercially available Kapton(TM) film, but the stability of the PMDA based blend films in dilute NaOH (1.5%) is better compared to the control film. The weight gains of the films in s olvents like dichloromethane, methyl ethyl ketone and water are dependent o n the nature of the solvent and its interaction with the blend, but the BTD A based blend films show overall better chemical resistance. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.