Abstract: Polyimide oligomers are described which comprise the condensation product of: at least one phenylindane diamine and at least one aromatic bis(ether anhydride). The polyimide oligomers of the invention are readily processed to form solution prepregable polyimide composites having high glass transition temperatures and high temperature and oxidative stability. More particularly, the present invention provides for crosslinkable polyimide oligomers prepared by reacting, in a suitable solvent under an inert atmosphere, a mixture of monomers comprising: (A) an aromatic diamine component comprising from about 25 to 100 mole % of at least one phenylindane diamine; (B) a dianhydride component comprising from about 25 to 100 mole % of at least one aromatic his(ether anhydride); and (C) at least one end-cap monomer selected from the group consisting of monoanhydrides, acyl halides and aromatic amines, wherein each end-cap monomer contains at least one crosslinkable functional group in the molecule.

Abstract: Polyimide oligomers are described which comprise the intercondensation product of a monomer mixture comprising (A) at least one aromatic bis(ether anhydride), (B) at least one phenylindane diamine, and (C) at least one end-cap monomer selected from the group consisting of monoanhydrides, acyl halides and amines, wherein each end-cap monomer (C) contains at least one crosslinkable group in the molecule and wherein the phenylindane diamine component (B) is present in the mixture in a stoichiometric excess. The monomers react in a suitable solvent under an inert atmosphere to form polyimide oligomers having a number average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 15,000. The polyimide oligomers of the present invention are readily processed to form polyimide matrix resins with high temperature and oxidative stability.