Crystalline imide/arylene ether copolymers

US5418300A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Brian J. Jensen · Williamsburg, US
• Paul M. Hergenrother · Yorktown, US
• Robert G. Bass · Richmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 8, 1994
• Grant date: May 23, 1995
• Expiry date: Apr 8, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08L79/08
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Crystalline imide/arylene ether block copolymers are prepared by reacting anhydride terminated poly(amic acids) with amine terminated poly(arylene ethers) in polar aprotic solvents and chemically or thermally cyclodehydrating the resulting intermediate poly(amic acids). The block copolymers of the invention have one glass transition temperature or two, depending on the particular structure and/or the compatibility of the block units. Most of these crystalline block copolymers form tough, solvent resistant films with high tensile properties. While all of the copolymers produced by the present invention are crystalline, testing reveals that copolymers with longer imide blocks or higher imide content have increased crystallinity.