PI-clay nanocomposites: Synthesis and characterization

A series of Polyimide (PI)-Organically modified clay nanocomposites were made to enhance tensile modulus, thermal stability of rigid PI. PI was made from 3′, 4, 4′.-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), p-phenylediamine (PDA). Montmorillonite, one type of layered clay, was treated by n hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide salt. XRD indicated that OMMT layers were exfoliated and dispersed into PI-film. Tensile measurements indicated that small amount of OMMT (up to 3%) increased tensile modulus nicely. The glass transition temperatures are higher than pristine PI. TGA showed that nanocomposites have higher decomposition temperatures in comparison with the original PI.