Polyetherimides
Heath et a1.  
 POLYETHERIMIDES Inventors: Darrell R. Heath, Overland Park.  
 Kans; Joseph G. Wirth, Ballston Lake, NY.  
 Assignee: General Electric Company,  
 Schenectady, NY.  
 Filed: Mar. 8, 1974 Appl. No.: 449,253  
 Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 319,327, Dec. 29. 1970, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 108,151,.lan. 20. 1971.  
 US. Cl..., 260/47 CP, 260/326 N, 260/338 R, 260/37 N, 260/49, 260/50, 260/78 TF 1 Apr. 1, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.699.075 10/1972 Lubowitz 260/49 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 224,056 6/1968 U.S.S.R 260/47 (P 257,010 3/1967 U.S.S.R 260/47 CP Prinuzr) 1;.raminer-Lester L. Lee Artornqv. Agenl, or Firm-William A. Teoli; Joseph T. Cohen; Jerome C. Squi11aro [57] ABSTRACT Polyetherimides are provided by effecting reaction between certain aromatic bis(etheranhydride) and organic diamine. The polyetherimides can be reinforced with various fillers to produce high performance composites.  
 2 Claims, No Drawings POLYETHERIMIDES o L /(J\ GOROQ NR o o where R is a member selected from the class consisting of (a) the following divalent organic radicals;  
  CH CH3 (I111: @Q-  
  H3 I a Q- 5H H3 CH3 B r B r (IJHJ CH; Br B r CH3 and Br Il3r I ir Br and (b) divalent organic radicals of the general formula where X is a member selected from the class consisting of divalent radicals of the formulas,  
 and S-, where m is 0 or 1, y is a whole number from 1 to 5. and the divalent bonds of the ORO radical are equally situated on the phthalic anhydride end groups, e.g., in the 3,3&#39;-positions or the 4,4&#39;-positions, and R is a divalent organic radical selected from the class consisting of (a) aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 6-20 carbon atoms and halogenated derivatives thereof, (b) alkylene radicals and cycloalkylene radicals having from 2-20 carbon atoms C alkylene terminated polydiorganosiloxane, and (c) divalent radicals included by the formula,  
 where Q is a member selected from the class consisting S, and -C,H and x is a whole number from I to 5 inclusive.  
  A preferred class of polyetherimides which are included by formula (1) are polymers consisting essentially of from about 2 to 5,000 units and preferably 2 to of the formula where R is previously defined, and R is Included by the polyetherimides of formula (2), are polymers consisting essentially of the following chemically combined units,  
 and mixtures thereof, where R and R are defined above.  
 and organic diamine of the formula,  
 H NRNH- where R and R are as previously defined.  
  There can be employed from 0.5 to 2 moles of aromatic bis(etheranhydride) per mole of organic diamine. It is preferred to employ substantially equal molar amounts of bisanhydride and diamine.  
  The aromatic bis(etheranhydride) of formula (6), and organic diamine of formula (7) can be stirred in the presence ofa dipolar aprotic organic solvent&#34; under ambient conditions to produce a polyamide acid. De- 7 pending upon the solids content of the polyamide acid solution, reaction time can vary between a few minutes or less to an hour or more. At the completion of the reaction, the solution can be cast on a substrate to facilitate the removal of organic solvent. The cast polyamide 3 acid film can be heated to an elevated temperature in a step-wise manner. After the initial heat treatment which can be, for example, up to 150C or higher, the film can be heated to a higher temperature, for example,200C300C for an hour or more to convert the polyamide acid to the polyimide state. Experience has shown that polyetherimide made from polyamide acid produced at ambient temperatures is generally insoluble in organic solvents. It can be employed as a wire coating enamel and impart solvent resistant properties to,various substrates.  
  In addition to the above ambient temperature method, another method which can be employed to make polyetherimide consisting essentially of chemically combined units of formula (1) is the high temperature method,&#34; shown by copending application Ser. No. 319,371 filed Dec. 29, 1972, now abandoned&#39; of Tohru Takekoshi and John Kochanowski filed concurrently herewith and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Reaction is effected between the aromatic bis(etheranhydride) of formula (6) and the organic diamine of formula (7) in the presence of an organic solvent at temperatures of at least 130C. Water of reaction is removed to facilitate polyetherimide formation. A mixture of a low boiling and higher boiling solvent also can be used which serves as an A azeotroping agent.  
  Suitable organic solvents for making the polyetherimide reaction products by the high temperature method are any organic solvent and materials thereof boiling between I 10C to 400C and inert to the polyetherimide. Solvents included are for example benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, etc.  
  The above polyetherimide reaction products of aromatic bis(etheranhydride) of formula (6) and organic diamine of formula (7) made by the high temperature method are soluble in organic solvents and can be cast from an organic solvent solution to a thermoplastic film. These polyetherimides can be molded at temperatures up to 500C. A preferred class of injection moldable materials are polyetherimide reaction products of organic diamine of formula (7) and aromatic bis(etheranhydride) of formula 6 Where R is defined as R These injecting moldable materials can be molded at temperatures of between 200C to 400C and are soluble in organic solvents such as methylene chloride, chloroform, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N- dimethylacetamide, etc.  
  The aromatic bis(etheranhydride)s of formula (6) are shown in copending application of Darrel Heath and Joseph Wirth, Ser. No. 281,749 filed Aug. 18, 1972, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. These dianhydrides can be prepared from the hydrolysis, followed by dehydration, of the reaction product of a nitrosubstituted phenyl dinitrile with a metal salt of a dihydric aryl compound in the presence of a dipolar aprotic solvent. For example, a benzenoid compound of the formula,  
 where the N0 group can be positioned anywhere on the benzene ring, can be reacted in dimethylformamide, with alkali metal salt ofa dihydric phenol of the general formula,  
 where R is a divalent aromatic radical and alk is an alkali metal ion. Various well known procedures can be used to convert the resulting tetranitriles to the corresponding tetra acid and dianhydrides.  
  Included by the alkali metal salts of the above described dihydric phenols are sodium and potassium salts of the following dihydric phenols:  
 2,2-bis-(2-hydroxyphenyl)propane;  
 2,4&#39;-dihydroxydiphenylmethane;  
 bis-( 2-hydroxyphenyl )-methane;  
 2,2-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane hereinafter identified as bisphenol-A or BPA,  
 1 ,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane;  
 1 ,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane;  
 2,2-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-pentane;  
 3 ,3-bis( -4-hydroxyphenyl )-pentane;  
 4,4-dihydroxybiphenyl;  
 4,4-dihydroxy-3,3&#39;,5,5-tetramethylbiphenyl; 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone; 4,4-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone; 2,4-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone; 4,4&#39;-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfoxide; 4,4&#39;-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfide; etc.  
  Included by the organic diamines of formula (7) are, for example,  
 m-phenylenediamine;  
 p-phenylenediamine;  
 4,4-diaminodiphenylpropane;  
 4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane;  
 benzidine;  
 4,4-diaminodiphenyl sulfide;  
 4,4-diaminodiphenyl sulfone;  
 4,4-diaminodiphenyl ether;  
 1,5-diaminoaphthalene;  
 3 ,3 &#39;-dim ethylbenzidine;  
 3,3&#39;-dimethoxybenzidine;  
 2,4-diaminotoluene; 2,6-diaminotoluene;  
 2,4-bis( B-amino-t-butyl )toluene;  
 bis(p-B-methyl-o-aminopentyl)benzene;  
 1 ,3-diamino-4-isopropylbenzene;  
  5 6 l,2-bis(3-aminopropoxy)ethane; uct. The yield was 149.7 parts. The intrinsic viscosity m-xylylenediamine; was 0.33 dl/g in dimethylformamide. The glass transip-xylylenediamine; tion temperature was 241C as determined by thermal bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane; optical analysis. The identity of the polymer was condecamethylenediamine; 5 firmed by its infrared spectrum; A 1,769, 1,712, 3-methylheptamethylenediamine; 1,380 and 1,250 cm. The thermal decomposition 4,4-dimethylheptamethylenediamine; temperature was 480C in nitrogen and 410C in air or 2,1 l-dodecanediamine; determined by thermal gravimetric analysis. The mate- 2,2-dimethylpropylenediamine; rial was extruded with a screw blade extruder. The exoctamethylenediamine; l truder pellets were extrusion molded at 300C and 3-methoxyhexamethylenediamine; 5,000 psi. The molded samples had a yield strength of 2,5-dimethylhexamethylenediamine; 13,700 psi and ultimate elongation of 12.4 percent. By 2,5-dimethylheptamethylenediamine; method of preparation the polymer has the following 3-methylheptamethylenediamine; structure:  
  0 0 11 11 r c N N@O In n -methylnonamethylenediamine; where n is a positive integer greater than 1. 1,4-cyclohexanediamine; 1,12-octadecanediamine; 3O EXAMPLE 2 bis(3-aminopropyl)sulfide; A mixture of 4,4-methylenedianiline (37.344 parts) N-methyl-bis(3-aminopropyl)amine; and 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane hexamethylenediamine; dianhydride (100.0000 parts), orthodichlorobenzene heptamethylenediamine; 2,4-diaminotoluene; (1,300 parts) and toluene (50 parts) was stirred and nonamethylenediamine; 2,6-diaminotoluene; heated to reflux for five hours under a nitrogen atmobis-(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane, etc. sphere. In the course of the reaction, water formed was The polyetherimides of formula (1) can be reinremoved by azeotropic distillation. Upon cooling, the forced with various particulated fillers such as glass fireaction mixture was poured into methanol to isolate bers, silica fillers, carbon whiskers, up to 50 percent by the polymer. The yield was 134.7 parts. The intrinsic weight of the resulting total blend. Reinforcement of viscosity was 0.41 dl/g in dimethylformamide. The glass polymer can be accomplished prior to polymer formatransition temperature was 237C as determined by tion by effecting polymerization in the presence of thermal optical analysis. The elemental analysis found filler. Melt blending and solution blending also can be was: C, 77.8 percent; P P employed. Calculated for (C H N O is C, 77.4 percent; H, 4.4 ln order that those skilled in the art will be able to 45 percent; N, 4.1 percent. The thermal decomposition practice the invention, the following examples are temperature of the polymer was 420C in nitrogen and given by way of illustration and not by way of limita- 420C in air as determined by thermal gravimetric analtion. All parts are by weight. ysis. The polymer was extruded with a screw blade extruder. The extruded pellets were injection molded at EXAMPLE 1 290C and 5,000 psi. The ultimate strength of the A mixture of 4,4-diaminodiphenylether (41.488 molded press was 10,400 psi and the elongation was 4.5 parts) and 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl] percent. propane dianhydride l 10.00 parts), diphenylether By method of preparation the structure of the polye- (l,500 parts) and toluene parts) was stirred and therimide is:  
 0 on. E 1 0 heated to reflux for five hours under a nitrogen atmowhere n is a positive integer greater than 1. s here. In the course of the reaction water was rep EXAMPLE 3 moved by azeotropic distillation. The cooled reaction mixture was poured into methanol to. isolate the prod- A mixture of 4,4&#39;diaminodiphenyl ether (20.744  
  7 parts) and 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]- propane dianhydride, (55.000 parts) and orthodichlorobenzene (750 parts) was stirred and heated to reflux for five hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. In the course of the reaction, water formed was removed by azeotropic distillation. Upon cooling, the reaction mixture was poured into methanol to isolate the product. The yield of the polymer was 72.7 parts. The intrinsic viscosity was .63 dl/g in dimethylformamide. The number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight were 63,800 and 18,800 respectively. The glass transition temperature was 221C as determined by thermal optical analysis. The infrared spectrum: k 1,767, 1,712, 1,372, 1,275, 1,244 and 1,217 cm. The elemental analysis found was: C, 75.3 percent; H, 4.4 percent and N, 3.8 percent. Calculated for (C H N O is: C, 75.4 percent, H, 4.1 percent lated for (C,, H n O is: C, 77.4 percent; H, 4.4 percent; N, 4.1 percent. The polymer was extruded with a screw blade extruder. The extruded pellets were compression molded at 300C and 5,000 psi. The ultimate strength was 11,300 psi, and the elongation was 6.7  
 15 percent.  
  By method of preparation, the structure of the polyetherimide is:  
 and N,4.1 percent. The polymer was extruded with a where n is an integer greater than 1.  
 screw blade extruder. Samples were compression molded at 280C. and 5,000 psi. The tensile strength of the molded sample was 12,400 psi, and the elongation was 9.4 percent.  
 By method of preparation, the polymer has the following structure:  
  E E CH3 I Il- Ql-Q fi/ Q where n is a positive integer greater than 1.  
 EXAMPLE 4 A mixture of 4,4&#39;methylenedianiline (18.672 parts) and 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl1propane dianhydride (50.000 parts), and orthodichlorobenzene (700 parts) was stirred and&#39;heated to reflux for five hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. In the course of the reaction, water formed was removed by azeotropic distillation. Upon cooling, the mixture was where n is an integer greater than 1.  
 EXAMPLE 5 A mixture of 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)- phenyl]propane dianhydride 93.000 parts), 4,4-  
 diaminodiphenyl ether (1.1520 parts) and dimethylac 5O etamide parts) was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours. The resulting film was insoluble in dimethylacetamide, chloroform, and dimethylsulfoxide. Based on method of preparation, the resulting polyetherimide has the following structure:  
  EXAMPLE 6 ylenediamine (1.494 parts), diphenyl ether (70 parts) and toluene (10 parts) was stirred and heated to reflux A mixture of 2,2-bis[4-(2 3-dicarboxy he x for 4 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. Upon coolphenyl]prpane dianhydride (3 0000 parts)v 4 4&#39;. ing, the mixture was poured into methanol to isolate diaminodiphenyl ether (1.1520 parts) and dimethyl- 5 the p y The yield was 79 parts- Elemental formamide (45 parts) was stirred at ambient tempera- SiS gives: C, 74.7 percen p r nt. Calculated ture for 2 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solufor 37 32 2 ti)n is P 5.4 Percent. tion was doctor bladed onto a glass slide to a thickness Based On the method 0f pr paration. e Structure Of ofa mil. Solvent was evaporated in vacuo. the resulting the p y id lSI o o t i N flexible film was cured at 275C in vacuo for 2 hours. EXAMPLE 9 The resulting film was insoluble in dimethylformamide,  
 chloroform and dimethylsulfoxide.Based on method of A mixture of 4,4-bis( 3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)- preparation, the resulting polyetherimide has the foldiphenylsulfide dianhydride (2.8457 parts), bis (4 lowing structure: 35 aminobutyl) tetramethyldisiloxane (1.5407 parts), tri- EXAMPLE 7 chlorobiphenyl, (mixed isomers) (35 parts) and tolu- A mixture of 2 2 bis[4 (2 3 dicarboxyphenoxy) ene (5 parts). The mixture was stirred and heated to rephenyllpropane dianhydride 18.099 parts) 2 flux for 4 hours. In the course of reaction water formed toluenediamine (1.8628 parts and orthodichlowas remqved b azeotroplc dlstillanon&#39; Upon l robenzene (100 parts) was stirred and heated to reflux regwon crimxture waipoured mm methanol to for four hours. Upon cooling, the mixture was poured ate t 6 P F -The yield of the polymer was 4,0 into methanol to isolate the polymer The yield was parts. The intrinsic viscosity of the polymer was 0.43 8.80 parts. A clear tough, flexible film was cast from a (mg m meta&#39;cresol&#39; The spectrum: L762 chloroform olution 3 1,700, 1,385, and cm By method of preparation, the polyetherimide has The thermal decomposition temperature of the polythe following structure: mer was-450C in nitrogen, and 410C. in air as deter- 0 0 ll yr 0 CH3 C l CW-Q l hm n  EXAMPLE 8 mined by thermal &#39;gravimetric analysis. A mixture of 2,2-bis[4-(2,3 dicarboxyphenoxy)- By method of preparation the structure of the resultphenyl]propane dianhydride (6.690 parts) hexameth ing polyetherimide is;  
 CH3 CH3 11 EXAMPLE 10 A mixture of 2,2-bis[4-(3.4-dicarboxyphenoxy)- phenyl]propane dianhydride (6.828 parts). methylenedianiline (2,341 parts), bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane (0.326 part) and o-dichlorobenzene (60 parts) was heated to reflux (183C.) for 2.5 hours during which time water formed was removed as an azeotropic mixture. The resulting polymer solution was cooled andc poured into methanol to isolate 8.47 parts (93.2 percent) of polymer. The polymer possessed the intrinsic viscosity of 0.48 dl/g in chloroform and glass transition temperature of 191C. as determined by differential scanning calorimetry.  
 EXAMPLE 1 l A mixture of 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)- phenyl]propane dianhydride (6820 parts), bis(3- aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane (3.255 parts) and o-dichlorobenzene (60 parts) was heated to reflux under nitrogen for two hours during which time the water formed was removed by azeotropic distillation. The reaction mixture was poured into isopropanol to isolate a tacky polymer product. The polymer was dis- CH3 CH3 EXAMPLE 12 A mixture of 2,2-his[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)- phenyl]propane dianhydride (1.500 parts), 2,2-bis[4- (2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride (1.500 parts), 4,4&#39;-diaminodiphenyl ether(l.l520 parts, trichlorobenzene (45 parts), and toluene (5 parts) was stirred and heated to reflux for five hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. In the course of the reaction, water formed was removed by a;eot ropic distillation. Upon cooling, the reaction mixture was poured into methanol to isolate the product. The yield was 3.78 parts. The intrinsic viscosity was 0.34 dl/g in dimethylformamide. The infrared spectrum: )\,,,,,,1,768, 1,700, 1,360, 1,250, 1,078 cm- Based on method of preparation the structure of the resulting polyetherimide is:  
  13 14 EXAMPLE 13 (5.204 parts), 4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane (2.002  
 parts), 50 parts of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and parts A mixture of 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)- of toluene was stirred and heated to reflux for 4 hours. phenyl]propane dianhydride (3.0000 parts). 4,4 meth- The water formed was continuously removed by azeoylenedianiline (1.1418 parts), and dimethylformamide 5 tropic distillation. The polymer was isolated by pouring parts) was stirred at ambient temperature for two the reaction mixture into methanol. The yield of the hours. Upon completion of the reaction. a piece of coppolymer was quantitative. The structure of the polyper wire was dipped into the reaction mixture. Solvent mer, confirmed by infrared and nuclear magnetic resswas evaporated in vacuo. The coated wire was heated onance spectra of the chloroform solution. is:  
 to 250C for one hour in vacuo. The coating was resis- 7 EXAMPLE 16 tant to chloroform, methylenechloride, water, and di- A mixture of 4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane (1.9826 methylacetamide.  
  parts), approximately one to one mixture of 2,2-bis[4- By method of preparation, the polyetherimide had (2.3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-phenyl]propane dianhydride the following structure: and 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)- El] CH: $1  
 CH3 n EXAMPLE 14 phenyl]propane dianhydride (5.2047 parts), orthodichlorobenzene (60 part) and toluene 10 parts) was A mixture of 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)- stirred and heated to reflux for four hours under nitrop y lp p dianhydride (60000 P gen atmosphere. In the course of the reaction, water oxydianiline (3.3040 P Orthodichlofobenlene (90 was removed by azeotropic distillation. Upon cooling, P and toluene Parts) was stirred and heated to the viscous reaction mixture was poured into methanol reflux for 4 hours. Upon cooling glass, fibers (5.4 parts) to isolate the fibrous precipitate of polyetherimide. The were added with stirring. Solvent was removed in yield was 6.43 parts. The polymer was soluble in chlovacuo. The resulting glass reinforced polyetherimide roform, dimethylformamide and meta-cresol. has the following structure: The above examples are limited to only a few of the a ll E M L 15 very many polyetherimides which are included by the present invention. For example, the aromatic bis A mixture of 4-(2,3-dicarboxypnenyl)-4&#39;-(3,4- (etheranhydride) of formula (6) which includes for exdicarboxyphenyl)-2,2-diphenylpropane dianhydride ample,  
 can be reacted with organic diamine of formula (7).  
  What we claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent of United States is:  
  l. Polyetherimides consisting essentially of chemically combined units of the formula,  
 o 0 II N 0 O .where R is a divalent organic radical of the formula and X is a member selected from the class consisting of where Q is a member selected from the class consisting of and C,H and x is a whole number from 1 to 5 inclusive.  
 2. Polyetherimide in accordance with claim 1, where UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,875,116 Dated April 1, 1975 lnventor( ar&#39;lell R. Heath et 3-1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:  
 The term of this patent subsequent to November 12, 1991, has been disclaimed.  
 Erigncd and Sealed this twenty-ninth Day Of June 1976 [SEAL] A t test:  
 RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner nfParems and Trademarks