Synthesis and characterization of aminoalkylsilatranes silanes based polyimide nanocomposites

Abstract

High thermally stable organic polymers have been the subject of much interest in newlinerecent times as to extend the life of polymeric products which are to be exposed to harsh newlineenvironments. The most promising material among thermally stable organic polymers newlineare aromatic polyimides (PIs). Even though PIs are thermally stable polymers, they can newlinestill degrade if exposed to high temperature for a long period. This exposure can lead to newlinechange the physical and/or chemical structure of the material and affects its newlinethermal/thermo-oxidative stability. Introducing new organic/inorganic moieties in newlinepolyimide matrix to enhance or improve the physical and chemical properties of newlinepolyimides is a known phenomenon. Organic/inorganic moieties can be introduced in newlinethe form of end capping agents or metal oxide fillers in the polyimide matrix. But, newlineorganic end capping agents, have poor thermal stability due to presence of aliphatic newlinechains, therefore inorganic components such as aminoalkylsilatranes can be used. newlineAminoalkylsilatranes are pentacoordinate hypervalent Si containing organometallic newlinecompounds, having a cage like structure. Similarly, metal oxide nanoparticles can also newlinebeen introduced into polyimide matrix to improve its thermal as well as mechanical newlineproperties. Keeping this in mind and our continued interest in the field of silatrane newlinechemistry prompted us to investigate further in the field of silatrane modified newlinepolyimides and polyimide nanocomposites newline