Abstract

Poly(imide-amide)s (PIAs) were synthesized from diacids, which were obtained by trimellitic anhydride and glycine, L-alanine, L-phenylalanine, L-valine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine and p-aminobenzoic acid, and bis(4-aminophenyl)diphenylsilane. Compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, optical activity, IR and NMR spectroscopies. Yields were good, but inh values were low, showing materials of oligomeric nature, confirmed by MALDI-TOF spectrometry. PIAs were soluble in polar aprotic solvents, while those derived from amino acids with bulky side groups were soluble in CHCl 3 and acetone. The wavenumber of vibrational bands were compared by Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. However, the high fluorescence emitted for PIAs, difficult to predict the vibrations of certain functional groups by Raman spectroscopy. The incorporation of chiral, amide and imide moieties interrupt the conjugation and increase the flexibility of the system. In addition, the adjacent phenyl units from the silicon-containing diamine, disfavors the planar conformation, which affects the optical properties showing an insulator behavior. DSC analyses showed that PIA-VII of aromatic nature had the higher glass transition temperature (Tg) value. For the other PIAs the Tg values decreased when volume of the side groups was increased, with the exception of PIA-VI derived from L-isoleucine. The thermal decomposition temperatures showed that only PIA-VII derived from p-aminobenzoic acid was thermostable. For the other PIAs it was possible to see a decrease of the TDT values when the size of the side chain is increased. The size and shape of the polymeric particles were studied by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), showing a relation between structure, incorporation of rigid aromatic rings and voluminous group into the system. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.