Aliphatic Polyimides for Optical Clarity and Soluble Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional polyimides are highly colored, lack optical clarity, and are insoluble, making them unsuitable for optical materials and flexible electronics due to UV absorbance and high-temperature processing requirements.

Innovation Solution

Development of aliphatic polyimides derived from aliphatic polyamines and dianhydrides, which are optically transparent, soluble, and can be processed at lower temperatures, allowing for applications in optical communications, flexible electronics, and UV-cured coatings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional polyimides are used, then thermal stability is improved, but optical clarity deteriorates due to high UV absorbance and colored appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidoptical clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using aliphatic polyamines and aliphatic dianhydrides instead of conventional aromatic polyimide monomers. This compositional parameter change results in polyimides with reduced UV absorbance and improved optical clarity while maintaining thermal stability through the imide bond structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite polyimide materials by combining aliphatic polyamines with aliphatic dianhydrides, producing a new material class that exhibits both thermal stability from the imide structure and optical clarity from the aliphatic backbone, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional polyimides are used, then structural integrity is improved, but processability deteriorates due to insolubility requiring high-temperature conversion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidprocessability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the solubility parameter by using aliphatic polyamine monomers with appropriate molecular weights and structures that enable solution processing at lower temperatures. The polyamic acid precursor remains soluble during processing, and the resulting polyimide can be processed without requiring high-temperature conversion, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If conventional polyimides are used, then mechanical strength is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to rigidity preventing use in flexible electronics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chain flexibility parameter by selecting aliphatic polyamines with appropriate molecular weights and structures that introduce flexibility into the polymer chain. The resulting polyimides maintain mechanical strength through the imide crosslinking while gaining sufficient flexibility for applications in flexible electronics, wearables, and bendable devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12441841B2Optically transparent polyimides

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 AKRON POLYMER SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides novel polyimides having a high aliphatic monomer-content and improved optical properties and solubility relative to conventional polyimides. Also provided are methods of making the polyimides, articles of manufacture incorporating the polyimides and methods for making these, as well as methods of using the polyimides.