Ultem®

ULTEM 1000 resin Ultem resins UltMat Ultimate... 

I itro-DisplacementPolymerization. The facile nucleophilic displacement of a nitro group on a phthalimide by an oxyanion has been used to prepare polyetherimides by heating bisphenoxides with bisnitrophthalimides (91). For example with 4,4 -dinitro monomers, a polymer with the Ultem backbone is prepared as follows (92). Because of the high reactivity of the nitro phthalimides, the polymerkation can be carried out at temperatures below 75°C. Relative reactivities are nitro compounds over halogens, Ai-aryl imides over A/-alkyl imides, and 3-substituents over 4-substituents. Solvents are usually dipolar aprotic Hquids such as dimethyl sulfoxide, and sometimes an aromatic Hquid is used, in addition. 

Ultem polyetherknides have appHcations in areas where high strength, dimensional stabiUty, creep resistance, and chemical stabiUty at elevated temperatures are important. Uses include electrical coimectors, wave guides and printed ckcuit boards for electronic equipment, food appHcations (microwaveable containers, utensils, and films), akcraft interior materials, and stetilizable medical equipment. 

Polyether Imides. Polyether imides (PEIs) are amorphous, high performance thermoplastic polymers that have been in use since 1982. The first commercial polyether imides were the Ultem series developed by the General Electric Co. The first, Ultem 1000 [61128-24-3] is prepared from phthahc anhydride, bisphenol A, and meta-phenylenediamine and has the following stmcture ... 

PEI resins reinforced with up to 40 wt % fiber glass are available. The American Cyanamid Co. uses an Ultem-type resin with carbon fibers to form their Cypac 1000 series prepregs (31). The moisture content of the resin must be less than 0.05% prior to melt processing to minimise thermal degradation. 

Many different lesins can be made by varying R and R, as in Ultem resins. 

Ultem PEI resins are amber and amorphous, with heat-distortion temperatures similar to polyethersulfone resins. Ultem resins exhibit high modulus and ate stiff yet ductile. Light transmission is low. In spite of the high use temperature, they are processible by injection mol ding, stmctural foam mol ding, or extmsion techniques at moderate pressures between 340 and 425°C. They are inherently flame retardant and generate Httie smoke dimensional stabiUties are excellent. Large flat parts such as circuit boards or hard disks for computers can be injection-molded to maintain critical dimensions. 

PEI polymers exhibit minimal creep underload. Eor example, unreinforced Ultem 1000 maintains part dimensions over thousands of hours at room temperature at a loading of 34 N/mm (4930 psi). PEI resins are available with HDTs ranging to 220°C (Ultem 5000). PEI copolymers with siUcone mbber allow for flame-retardant, high temperature appHcations such as plenum wire coatings (Siltem). Reinforcement of PEI resins improves their temperature performance. Table 13 compares unreinforced and 20% glass-reinforced Ultem resins. 

The Ultem PEI resins compete with PAI, polyarylethersulfone, nylon, and polyester resins in certain markets. General Electric Co. is the sole U.S. manufacturer of PEI resins. High cost coupled with stiff competition from metals and ceramics have limited growth. 

Thermoplastic Condensation Polyimides. These include General Electric s Ultem Resin and Amoco s Todon polyamideimide although the latter is no longer offered as injection moldable pellets, but as compression moldable powder and in solution. Another resin, P-84, originally developed by Upjohn but now made by Lenzing (Austria), is based on benzoquinone dianhydride and aromatic isocyanates. 

In 1982 General Electric introduced Ultem, a polyetherimide with the following structure ... 

Also of interest is the polysiloxane-polyetherimide copolymer marketed as Ultem Siltem STM1500, which is considered further in Chapter 29. 

These materials are developed from the polyetherimides introduced by General Electric (see also Section 18.14.2). At the time of writing one grade, Ultem Siltem STM 1500, is being offered. It is of particular interest as a material for wire and cable insulation, as it not only has excellent flame resistance coupled with low smoke generation but also avoids possible toxic and corrosion hazards of halogenated polymers. This can be of importance where there are possible escape problems in the event of a fire, such as in tunnels, aircraft and marine (particularly submarine) vessels. 

Table 29.6 Some typical properties of a polysiloxane-polyetherimide copolymer (Ultem Siltem STM 1500)...

Figure 32.1. Polar diagrams for three thermoplastic materials, CYCOLOY (a PC/ABS blend), ULTEM (polyetherimide) and NORYL (a styrenic PPO). The shaded area indicates the range...

Figure 6 shows SEM micrographs of the fracture surface after tensile test. For the immiscible Ultem/Vec-tra B blends, numerous microfibrils are observed to be pulled out from the surface (Fig. 6A), Many matrix voids generated by the pull-out of microfibrils reveal the poor...

Ullmann reaction, 10 575 Ulmic coals, 6 703 -ulose suffix, for sugars, 4 696 Ultem, 10 217, 218 Ultimate strain, 11 183 Ultimet... 

Hydel, Lubricomp, RTF, Siltem, Stat-Kon, Tempalux, Ultem. 

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