Abstract: A primary object of the invention is to provide a production technology for functional polyamic acid microfine particles and functional polyimide microfine particles by which the particle shape, size and size distribution can be freely controlled. The invention is concerned with a process for synthesizing polyamic acid particles having functional groups at least on the surface from a tetracarboxylic anhydride and a diamine compound characterized by its comprising (a) a first step which comprises providing a tetracarboxylic anhydride and a diamine compound at least one of which has functional groups and preparing a first solution containing the tetracarboxylic anhydride and a second solution containing the diamine compound and (b) a second step which comprises mixing the first and second solutions under ultrasonic agitation to thereby precipitate polyamic acid microfine particles from the mixed solution.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide thermosetting amic acid microfine particles, thermosetting imide microfine particles and crosslinked imide microfine particles of controlled particle shape and size distribution. The invention provides a production technology which comprises mixing a first solution containing a tetracarboxylic anhydride and a C═C bond-containing acid anhydride with a second solution containing a diamine compound, causing precipitation of thermosetting amic acid microfine particles from the resulting mixture, and further producing thermosetting imide microfine particles and crosslinked imide microfine particles from the thermosetting amic acid microfine particles.

Abstract: A process for producing polyimide microfine particles which is amenable to free control of particle morphology and particle diameter distribution is provided. A polyamic acid and a polyimide, each in the form of microfine particles with good monodispersibility, are also provided. There is also provided a process for producing polyimide microfine particles from a tetracarboxylic anhydride and a diamine compound which comprises (a) a first step of preparing a first solution containing the tetracarboxylic anhydride and a second solution containing the diamine compound, (b) a second step of mixing the first and second solutions and causing a polyamic acid to precipitate in the form of microfine particles from the mixed solution under ultrasonic agitation, and (c) a third step of imidating the polyamic acid particles to provide the objective polyimide in the form of microfine particles.