Polyesterimide properties

The physical properties of systems having imide groups incorporated with epoxy resin was not seen until much later. Researchers in Korea performed microscopic analysis of commercially available polyetherimide (ULTEM1000) modified epoxy resins [40]. In their work, electron micrographs of the systems showed a two phase system even though their systems were limited to polyimide contents of less then 10 wt%. Compatibilizing polyesterimides with polyetherimides in order to fabricate in situ epoxy composites was addressed by Seo et al. [41]. 

Properties.—A polyimide from succcinic acid has been fractionated and Mark-Houwink equation parameters determined, Several studies have appeared devoted to the investigation of the flexibility of polyimide molecules. Theoretical and experimental data indicate that these polymers have rather a high flexibility. " The Kuhn segment has been reported to consist of 2.5 monomer units. Also used to examine polyesterimides have been ultrasonic velocity and Rao formulism. ... 

TMA-based polymers i.e., polyesterimides, polyamideimides etc. possess better thermal stability than most of the large volume commodity pol3nners. Although their heat resistance is somewhat lower than polyimide or polybenzimidazole, their superior solubility behavior and melt-flow characteristics make them easily processable. Combination of these two desirable properties is responsible for their commercial interest. 

The properties of such polyesterimides are expected to be different from the polyesterimide reported earlier, but these will resemble closely to the polyesterimide prepared by one-step process. ... 

The applications of polyesterimides as heat resistant material has many advantages over the conventionally used polymers. This paper will summarize our research on the synthesis and characterization of two new polyesterimides from N-(4-carboxyphenyl) trimellitimide [7] and two other monomers, 4,4 -diacetoxybiphenyl [2] and cis-l,2-diacetoxy-3,5-cyclohexadiene [4] respectively. The physical, physicochemical and thermal properties of the polymers have been investigated. The monomers [2] and [4] have been prepared via enzymatic reactions from commercially available inexpensive starting materials followed by acetylation. This shows, in general, the potential of biotechnology on the development of new polymers, and heat resistant polymers in particular. 

Two basic types of polyimides are of commercial significance. In the first type, which are unmodified polyimides, imide is the principal functional group present. In the second type, which are modified polyimides, other functional groups are also present modified polyimides include poly(amide-imide)s, polyesterimides, polyetherimides and polybismaleimides. The development of this large variety of modified polyimides has been stimulated by the desire to find materials which are more readily processable than the unmodified polyimides whilst retaining the same superior properties. 

---