Influence of chemical structure of polyimide prepolymer on rheo‐mechanical properties of polyimide foam composites

Abstract A study is reported of the effect of varying chemical composition of foam polyimide prepolymers (H‐complex) on the structure and properties of foam polyimide resins and their composites with aromatic polyimide fiber felt. The melt rheological behavior of the H‐complex was found to be strongly dependent on its chemical composition and structure reorganization in the melt which is akin to mesophasic structural transition states in liquid crystal polymers. Changing the diamine part of the H‐complex from 4,4‐methylene dianiline to 1,3‐diaminobenzene led to decreased steady shear viscosity at temperatures and shear rates ranging between 95° and 105°C and 0.01 and 1 s⁻¹, respectively. Additionally, changing the dialkyl moiety from dimethyl to diethyl in 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dialkyl ester (precursor to the H‐complex) increased gelation time of the H‐complex, enhancing processibility of the foam polyimide composites. The results indicate that novel, lightweight foam polyimide composites with enhanced thermomechanical properties for beneficial uses can be prepared through chemical modification of the H‐complex prior to its thermal imidization in the presence of the aromatic polyimide fiber felt.