Polyimide-carbon black composites

Preparation of Electro-Conductive Polyimide-Carbon Black Composites... 

The salt monomer method was successfully applied to the preparation of the electrically-conducting polyimide-carbon black composites [62]. The composites are prepared as follows An aqueous solution of salt monomer 9PMA was mixed with carbon black, giving a suspension. This was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to afford a homogeneously-mixed powder composed of the salt monomer and carbon black. The powder was subjected to solid-state thermal polycondensation in the form of a pellet at 240 °C for 1 h under atmospheric pressure. The semiconducting aliphatic polyimides (P-9PM, Tm=315 °C) having electric conductivity of about 10"6 S/cm was readily obtained by mixing only 1 wt% of carbon black based on the polyimide. 

Organic matrices are divided into thermosets and thermoplastics. The main thermoset matrices are polyesters, epoxies, phenolics, and polyimides, polyesters being the most widely used in commercial applications (3,4). Epoxy and polyimide resins are applied in advanced composites for structural aerospace applications (1,5). Thermoplastics Uke polyolefins, nylons, and polyesters are reinforced with short fibers (3). They are known as traditional polymeric matrices. Advanced thermoplastic polymeric matrices like poly(ether ketones) and polysulfones have a higher service temperature than the traditional ones (1,6). They have service properties similar to those of thermoset matrices and are reinforced with continuous fibers. Of course, composites reinforced with discontinuous fibers have weaker mechanical properties than those with continuous fibers. Elastomers are generally reinforced by the addition of carbon black or silica. Although they are reinforced polymers, traditionally they are studied separately due to their singular properties (see Chap. 3). 

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