Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for producing an aerogel, the method comprising reacting at least one acid monomer with at least one diamino monomer in a first solvent under conditions appropriate to form a polyimide polymer; conducting a solvent exchange wherein the first solvent is exchanged for a second solvent, said second solvent having a freezing point, wherein said solvent exchange further comprises (1) submersing the polyimide polymer in the second solvent in a pressure vessel and (2) creating a high pressure environment inside the pressure vessel for a first period of time; cooling the polyimide polymer to a first temperature below the freezing point of the second solvent; and subjecting cooled polyimide polymer to a first vacuum for a second period of time at a second temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for producing an aerogel, the method comprising reacting at least one acid monomer with at least one diamino monomer in a first solvent under conditions appropriate to form a polyimide polymer; conducting a solvent exchange wherein the first solvent is exchanged for a second solvent, said second solvent having a freezing point, wherein said solvent exchange further comprises (1) submersing the polyimide polymer in the second solvent in a pressure vessel and (2) creating a high pressure environment inside the pressure vessel for a first period of time; cooling the polyimide polymer to a first temperature below the freezing point of the second solvent; and subjecting cooled polyimide polymer to a first vacuum for a second period of time at a second temperature.

Abstract: Black polyimides polymer and a method of synthesizing the same have been developed. The black polyimide polymer includes at least one acid monomer, at least one diamino monomer and a solvent-soluble black dye. The acid and diamino monomers having been reacting in a solvent under suitable conditions to form a polyimide precursor polymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for producing an aerogel, the method comprising reacting at least one acid monomer with at least one diamino monomer in a first solvent under conditions appropriate to form a polyimide polymer; conducting a solvent exchange wherein the first solvent is exchanged for a second solvent, said second solvent having a freezing point, wherein said solvent exchange further comprises (1) submersing the polyimide polymer in the second solvent in a pressure vessel and (2) creating a high pressure environment inside the pressure vessel for a first period of time; cooling the polyimide polymer to a first temperature below the freezing point of the second solvent; and subjecting cooled polyimide polymer to a first vacuum for a second period of time at a second temperature.

Abstract: A protective film has a soluble polyimide polymer base layer and an exterior layer directly contacting the base layer exterior surface. The base layer is less than 12 microns thick, and is at least 2 meters long. The exterior layer includes at least one of a fluorinated polymer, a dielectric layer, one or more metallic layers, a metalloid layer, or a plurality a dielectric layers where each dielectric layer has a dielectric layer thickness that varies no more than 3%. The exterior layer or the base layer can also include additives, as desired.

Abstract: A protective film has a soluble polyimide polymer base layer and an exterior layer directly containing the base layer exterior surface. The base layer is less than 12 microns thick, and is at least 2 meters long. The exterior layer includes at least one of a fluorinated polymer, a dielectric layer, one or more metallic layers, a metalloid layer, or a plurality of dielectric layers where each dielectric layer has a dielectric layer thickness that varies no more than 3%. The exterior layer or the as layer can also include additives, as desired.

Abstract: A protective film has a soluble polyimide polymer base layer and an exterior layer directly contacting the base layer exterior surface. The base layer is less than 12 microns thick, and is at least 2 meters long. The exterior layer includes at least one of a fluorinated polymer, a dielectric layer, one or more metallic layers, a metalloid layer, or a plurality of dielectric layers where each dielectric layer has a dielectric layer thickness that varies no more than 3%. The exterior layer or the base layer can also include additives, as desired.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel suspension device used in producing a composition, such as, but not limited to, a polyimide composition. The suspension device in its most general form comprises a support element and an attachment element. The attachment element is in communication at one of its ends with the support element and at the other with a workpiece, such as a poly(amic acid) or polyimide workpiece. The suspension device may further comprise additional elements. The suspension device maintains the workpiece in a suspended state during processing so as to reduce or eliminate processing-related defects.

Abstract: A protective film has a soluble polyimide polymer base layer and an exterior layer directly contacting the base layer exterior surface. The base layer is less than 12 microns thick, and is at least 2 meters long. The exterior layer includes at least one of a fluorinated polymer, a dielectric layer, one or more metallic layers, a metalloid layer, or a plurality of dielectric layers where each dielectric layer has a dielectric layer thickness that varies no more than 3%. The exterior layer or the base layer can also include additives, as desired.

Abstract: A process for adjusting polyimide polymer properties includes combining monomers in a reaction mass to form a polyimide precursor. A property modifying moiety which is covalently bonded to an amine is then added to the reaction mass, and the reaction between the amine bonded to the property modifying moiety and the polyimide precursor is arrested before equilibrium. The polyimide precursor is imidized to form a polyimide polymer prior to equilibrium.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel methods of producing a composition, such as, but not limited to, a polyimide composition. The methods in their most general form comprise providing a workpiece, suspending the workpiece and subjecting the suspended workpiece to processing such that the workpiece undergoes a transformation from a first state to a second state. By maintaining the workpiece in a suspended state during processing, processing-related defects are reduced or eliminated. Using such methods, the present disclosure provides compositions that are have no or reduced processing-related defects. In addition, the compositions are more consistent in chemical and physical properties and are cheaper and more economical to produce (since less product is rejected as unsuitable).

Abstract: An improved solid expellant plasma generator has been developed. The plasma generator includes a support housing, an electrode rod located in the central portion of the housing, and a mass of solid expellant material that surrounds the electrode rod within the support housing. The electrode rod and the solid expellant material are made of separate materials that are selected so that the electrode and the solid expellant material decompose at the same rate when the plasma generator is ignited. This maintains a point of discharge of the plasma at the interface between the electrode and the solid expellant material.

Abstract: An improved solid expellant plasma generator has been developed. The plasma generator includes a support housing, an electrode rod located in the central portion of the housing, and a mass of solid expellant material that surrounds the electrode rod within the support housing. The electrode rod and the solid expellant material are made of separate materials that are selected so that the electrode and the solid expellant material decompose at the same rate when the plasma generator is ignited. This maintains a point of discharge of the plasma at the interface between the electrode and the solid expellant material.

Abstract: A soluble polyimide polymer with tethered oligomeric silsesquioxane compounds is produced using efficient, gentle reactions. A carboxylic acid attachment point on the polymer backbone is used to connect the oligomeric silsesquioxane. The oligomeric silsesquioxane compound includes an amine or an alcohol on an organic tether, which reacts with the carboxylic acid attachment point to produce either an amide or an ester bond. The amide or ester bond includes a carbonyl carbon directly connected to a phenyl group in the polymer backbone. The resultant polyimide polymer has many beneficial properties.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel methods of producing a composition, such as, but not limited to, a polyimide composition. The methods in their most general form comprise providing a workpiece, suspending the workpiece and subjecting the suspended workpiece to processing such that the workpiece undergoes a transformation from a first state to a second state. By maintaining the workpiece in a suspended state during processing, processing-related defects are reduced or eliminated. Using such methods, the present disclosure provides compositions that are have no or reduced processing-related defects. In addition, the compositions are more consistent in chemical and physical properties and are cheaper and more economical to produce (since less product is rejected as unsuitable).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel suspension device used in producing a composition, such as, but not limited to, a polyimide composition. The suspension device in its most general form comprises a support element and an attachment element. The attachment element is in communication at one of its ends with the support element and at the other with a workpiece, such as a poly(amic acid) or polyimide workpiece. The suspension device may further comprise additional elements. The suspension device maintains the workpiece in a suspended state during processing so as to reduce or eliminate processing-related defects.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes comprises a polyimide composition comprising at least one diamine monomer and at least two dianhydride monomer types, at least two diamine monomer types and at least one dianhydride monomer at least two diamine monomer types and at least two dianhydride monomer types. In one embodiment, the diamine monomers are 2,2-bis[4-(4aminophenoxy)phenyl]-hexafluoropropane (BDAF) or 4,4?-diaminobenzanilide (DABA) or combinations of the foregoing and the dianhydride monomers are 4,4?-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)di-phthalicanhydride (6-FDA) and 3,3?,4,4?-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (s-BDPA) or combinations of the foregoing. The polyimide compositions described herein have controllable and variable properties, such as but not limited to CTE, allowing the use of the polyimide compositions in a wide variety of applications.