Charge-transfer complex is responsible for the yellowness in polyimide and polyetherimide (PEI). Herein, we investigated the effects of end group and molecular weight on the yellowness of telechelic PEI. Electron-withdrawing dianhydride end groups reduced the yellowness and increased the transparency of PEI regardless of the molecular weight. Electron-donating phenyl, amine, and phthalic end groups increased the yellowness of PEIs, but the effect depended on the molecular weight. As the molecular weight was increased, the yellowness of PEIs with electron-donating end groups initially decreased due to a decreasing end group density and then increased due to an increasing probability of charge-transfer complex formation. The systematic study reveals the correlations among yellowness, end group, and molecular weight of PEIs. The correlations can be used for designing highly transparent PEIs in applications of flexible displays, solar radiation protectors, and optical wave guides.

Poly(ether imide)s oligomers with tailored yellowness

2019 Spring National Meeting

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