High thermally stable thermosetting polyimides derived from a carborane-containing tetramine

In this study, we report the preparation of thermosetting polyimides (PIs) based on carborane-containing tetramine and their characterizations. The novel tetramine 1,2-bis(4-(3,5-diaminobenzoic acid phenyl ester))carborane (CBNH) was synthesized and characterized firstly. Then, it was used in the preparation of two kinds of branched imide oligomers via the method of thermal imidization. The cure behavior of the obtained phenylethynyl-terminated oligomers was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of carborane substituent on the thermal properties of PIs was studied by comparing with a similar structure without the carborane group. The thermal properties of PIs and carbon fiber/PI composites were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. Because of the introduction of high steric hindrance of carborane structure, the resulting thermosets and carbon fiber/PI composites had excellent thermal property with a high char yield at 800°C (>66.5%) and a high glass transition temperature (up to 500°C), respectively.