Polyimide-siloxane hybrid materials: Influence of coupling agents addition on microstructure and properties

Polyimide-silica hybrid materials were prepared by polycondensation, polyimidization, and sol-gel coreactions. Several aminoalkoxysilane precursors providing a chemical bonding between the inorganic and the organic phase were used. During the synthesis, the molecular structure of the materials prepared with these precursors were followed at various steps by Si-29-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). The final materials were characterized at the macroscopic level by thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy and at the molecular level by infrared spectrometry and Si-29-MAS-NMR spectroscopy. It has been demonstrated that the properties of the organic sidegroups of the bonding agent are determinent on the properties of the final material. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.