Synthesis and Characterization of Colorless Polyimide Nanocomposite Films Containing Pendant Trifluoromethyl Groups

A series of colorless polyimide (PI) nanocomposite films were synthesized from 2,2'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4'-diaminobiphenyl (TFDB) with various organoclay contents by solution intercalation polymerization to poly(amic acid)s, followed by thermal imidization. The variation with the organoclay content of the thermomechanical properties, morphology, and optical transparency of the hybrids was examined at organoclay loadings ranging from 0 to 1.0 wt%. The hybrid films showed high optical transparency and almost no color, with cut-off wavelengths ranging from 352 and 356 nm and very low $b^*$ values of 1.19-1.77. The hybrid PI films showed good thermal properties with a glass transition temperature of $280-287^{\circ}C$. Most films did not show any significant thermal decomposition below $490^{\circ}C$. The addition of only a small amount of organoclay was sufficient to improve the tensile properties of the PI films with maximum enhancement being observed at 0.25 wt% organoclay. Moreover, these PI hybrids also had low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE).