Novel fluorinated polyimides derived from 9,9-bis(4-amino-3,5-difluorophenyl)fluorene and aromatic dianhydrides

Novel fluorinated polyimides (PIs) were prepared from 9,9-bis(4-amino-3,5-difluorophenyl)fluorene with three aromatic dianhydrides via a one-step high-temperature polycondensation procedure. These obtained PIs showed excellent solubility and could be readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents such as NMP, DMAc, DMF, CHCl3, CH2Cl2 and THF. All the PIs could afford flexible and strong films with low dielectric constants (2.62-2.79 at 1 MHz) and low moisture absorptions (0.18-0.41%). Thin films of these PIs exhibited high optical transparency and light color, with the cutoff wavelength at 341-355 nm and transmittance higher than 80% at 450 nm. Meanwhile, these PIs possessed eminent thermal stability, with decomposition temperatures (T-d) above 570 degrees C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres and glass transition temperatures (T-g) beyond 376 degrees C. Moreover, these fluorinated PI films showed low surface free energy and hydro-oleophobic character. The contact angles on the films for water and glycerol were in the range of 102.3-107.9 degrees and 94.0-100.3 degrees, respectively. In comparison with the analogous PI non-containing fluorine group, these fluorinated PIs showed better solubility, higher optical transparency, lower dielectric constants and lower surface free energy. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.