Optical Applications of Polyimides

A high optical transparency is a basic requirement for optical applications. However, conventional polyimides such as PMDA/ODA have a low optical transparency owing to their dark yellow coloration (they are semitransparent, not opaque). Colorless polyimides have been developed for use in space components, such as solar cells and thermal control systems for the first time.  

Recently, optical telecommunications tliat transmit large amounts of information via light signals have been rapidly replacing conventional electrical telecommunications. Optical polymers, such as poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC) are used for plastic optical fibers and waveguides. However, these polymers do not have enough Ihermal 

Stability for use in optical interconnects. In the near future, optoelectronic integrated circuits and optoelectronic multichip modules will be produced. Materials with high thermal stability will thus become very important in providing compatibility with conventional 1C fabrication processes and in ensuring device reliability. Polyimides have excellent thermal stability so they are often used as electronic materials. Furuya et al. introduced polyimide as an optical interconnect material for the first time. Reuter et al. have applied polyimides to optical interconnects and have evaluated the fluorinated polyimides prepared from 6FDA and three diamines, ODA (3), 2,2-bis(3-aminophenyl) hexafluoropropane (3,3 -6F) (4), and 4,4 -6F (2), as optical waveguide materials. 

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