Lyotropic para-linked aromatic poly(amic ethyl ester)s

The synthesis, characterization and application of lyotropic precursor polymers for polyimides, poly(amic ethyl ester)s (PAE) are presented. By the use of non-coplanar and para-linked monomers, rigid-rod PAEs are synthesized in a typical polycondensation reaction yielding liquid crystalline solutions at concentrations of 30-40 wt% in NMP at 100 degreesC. These lyotropic solutions pen-nit for the first time the fabrication of orientation PAE layers by shear which are thermally converted to the corresponding polyimide. The bulk orientation in the thin films is characterized by spectroscopic methods. In addition the lyotropic solution is spun into fibers in a dry-jet wet spinning process. The obtained fiber orientation is characterized by tensile tests and wide angle X-ray scattering.