High temperature polyimides, chemistry and properties

Abstract Selected polyimide resins are capable of long term use at 316°C for over thousands of hours in an inert atmosphere, and approximately 2000 hours in air. This attractive feature of polyimides has provided an avenue for applications at elevated temperature (316°C) as adhesives, coatings, and secondary structures in the form of fiber reinforced polyimide composites. The chemistry and properties of thermoplastic and crosslinked polyimides, including addition‐type polyimides, will be discussed. The chemical considerations of both commercial and experimental polymer materials, Avimid N, PMR‐15, LARC TPI, IP‐600, L‐20, and L‐30 as they affect processing are reviewed. General physical, thermal, mechanical, and thermo‐oxidative stability properties of polyimides are presented Room temperature and 316°C mechanical properties of unaged and 1000 hr 316°C aged high temperature polymer composites will also be discussed.