Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions of an aromatic polyimide and an aromatic polyethersulfone. The compositions have high upper critical use temperatures, high moduli, high tensile strengths, and high impact strengths. Some of the compositions are miscible blends, which additionally possess significant advantages due to their ease of processing. The miscible blends can be processed into amorphous single phase compositions or phase-separated compositions, depending on the processing conditions. Preferred compositions are blends of VICTREX polyethersulfone with either of the polyimides XU-218 or PI-2080.

Abstract: A method for dispersing a second polymer within a first polymer is disclosed, the polymers being mutually miscible and when blended exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) type behavior. The first and second polymers are blended together at a temperature for easy processing and then phase separated at a temperature above the LCST of the blended polymer pair. The phase separated polymers are then cooled to a temperature wherein the polymer pair become fixed in the phase separated state.

Abstract: A composite having third order non-linear optical activity comprising, an organic polymer and an inorganic material. The organic polymer has third order nonlinear optical activity and the inorganic material is a sol-gel glass. The organic polymer or a precursor of the organic polymer is mutually soluble with a precursor of the sol-gel glass. The invention also includes photonic media having the above composite and a method of making the composite.

Abstract: A method for dispersing a second polymer within a first polymer is disclosed, the polymers being mutually miscible and when blended exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) type behavior. The first and second polymers are blended together at a temperature for easy processing and then phase separated at a temperature above the LCST of the blended polymer pair. The phase separated polymers are then cooled to a temperature wherein the polymer pair become fixed in the phase separated state.

Abstract: Miscible compositions comprising from about 1 part by weight to about 99 parts by weight of an aromatic polyetherimide and from about 99 parts by weight of about 1 part by weight of an aromatic polybenzimidazole. Preferably, the composition comprises from about 5 parts by weight to about 95 parts by weight of an aromatic polyetherimide and from about 95 parts by weight to about 5 parts by weight of an aromatic polybenzimidazole. In a composition mostly comprised of an aromatic polybenzimidazole, it is preferred that the aromatic polyetherimide be present in the composition in an amount sufficient to make the aromatic polybenzimidazole more thermally processable and also less susceptible to moisture. More preferably, such compositions are comprised of from about 65 parts by weight to about 95 parts by weight of an aromatic polybenzimidazole and from about 35 parts by weight to about 5 parts by weight of an aromatic polyetherimide.

Abstract: Miscible compositions comprising from about 1 part by weight to about 99 parts by weight of an aromatic polyimide and from about 99 parts by weight to about 1 part by weight of an aromatic polybenzimidazole. Preferably, the composition comprises from about 5 parts by weight to about 95 parts by weight of an aromatic polyimide and from about 95 parts by weight to about 5 parts by weight of an aromatic polybenzimidazole. In a composition mostly comprised of an aromatic polybenzimidazole, it is preferred that the aromatic polyimide be thermoplastic and be present in the composition in an amount sufficient to make the aromatic polybenzimidazole more processable for molding purposes and also less susceptible to moisture. More preferably, such compositions are comprised of from about 65 parts by weight to about 95 parts by weight of an aromatic polybenzimidazole and from about 35 parts by weight to about 5 parts by weight of a thermoplastic aromatic polyimide.

Abstract: Poly (p-xylylidenes) having a high degree of polymerization in the form of films, foams or highly molecularly oriented films and fibers are chemically modified from insulators to conducting materials by exposure to either p- or n-type dopants. Poly (p-xylylidene) films are cast from aqueous solutions of a poly (p-xylene-.alpha.-dimethylsulfonium salt) polyelectrolyte. Processing of the films at elevated temperatures can yield both fibers and foams. Exposure of the poly (p-xylylidene) films, fibers or foams to p-type dopants result in an up to fifteen order of magnitude increase in conductivity, while n-type coping yields a nine order of magnitude increase. Doping of molecularly oriented films and fibers yields a highly anisotropic conductor with a greatly improved conductivity in the orientation direction.