Process for the production of a random copolymer containing repeating polyimide units and repeating polyetherimide units

• US 4,680,373 A
• Filed: 05/27/1986
• Issued: 07/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Greenberg, Ronald A., Gallagher, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phynes, Lucille M.
• Application Number:
  US06/867,635
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 526/65, 526/66, 528/125, 528/126, 528/128, 528/173, 528/179, 528/183, 528/185, 528/188, 528/351, 528/352, 528/353
• US Class Current: 528/185
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 73/1028 characterised by the process itself, e.g. steps, continuous
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 73/1042 Copolyimides derived from at least two different tetracarboxylic compounds or two different diamino compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 73/1053 with oxygen only in the tetracarboxylic moiety
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 73/1064 containing sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 73/1071 Wholly aromatic polyimides containing oxygen in the form of ether bonds in the main chain

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the production of random copolymers containing repeating polyimide units and repeating polyetherimide units. The process is a reverse addition process and utilizes at least two dianhydrides of varying reactivity.

Claims

1. A process for the production of a substantially random copolymer containing repeating polyimide units and repeating polyetherimide units comprising:

(a) reacting in a first reactor at least one dianhydride of the formula ##STR10## with a diamine of the formula

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">H.sub.2 N--R--NH.sub.2 II

under imidization conditions for a time sufficient to produce amine-terminated oligomers;

(b) heating in a second reactor at least one dianhydride of the formula ##STR11## and an inert solvent to a temperature equal to or greater than the first reactor; and

(c) metering the contents of the first reactor into the contents of the second reactor at a rate of addition such that water can be removed from the reaction mixture as it is formed and heating the resulting mixture for a time sufficient to complete the imidization reaction, wherein the molar ratio of total dianhydride reacted to total diamine reacted is 1;

0.5 to 1;

2 and from about 78 to 99 mole percent of the total dianhydride is reacted in step (a) and wherein --O--Z--O-- is in the 3 or 3'"'"'- and 4 or 4'"'"'-positions and Z is a member of the class consisting of (1) ##STR12## and (2) divalent organic radicals of the general formula;

##STR13## where X is a member selected from the class consisting of divalent radicals of the formulas, --C_y H_2y --, ##STR14## --O-- and --S-- where q is 0 or 1, y is a whole number from 1 to 5, R is a divalent organic radical selected from the class consisting of (a) aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms and halogenated derivatives thereof, (b) alkylene radicals and cycloalkylene radicals having from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, C.sub.(2-8) alkylene terminated polydiorganosiloxane, and (c) divalent radicals included by the formula ##STR15## where Q is a member selected from the class consisting of --O--, ##STR16## --S--, and --C_x H_2x --, and x is a whole number from 1 to 5 inclusive, and M is a tetravalent radical selected from the class consisting of ##STR17## where B is an electron-withdrawing group.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein from 80 to 84 mole percent of the total dianhydrides are of the formula I.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said dianhydride of the formula I is of the structure ##STR18##

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the first vessel is at least 160°

C.

5. The process of claim 3, wherein the temperature of the second vessel is substantially the same as the first vessel.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is o-dichlorobenzene.