Synthesis and Properties of Poly(imides) and Poly(imides)/Ionic Liquid Composites Bearing a Benzimidazole Moiety
Claudio A. Terraza,
Pablo Ortiz,
Luis H. Tagle,
Germán Pérez,
César Saldias,
Fidel E. Rodríguez-González,
Gustavo Cabrera-Barjas,
Henry Catalán,
Alain Tundidor-Camba,
Deysma Coll
Affiliations
Claudio A. Terraza
Research Laboratory for Organic Polymers (RLOP), Faculty of Chemistry and of Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, P.O. Box 306, Post 22, Santiago, Chile
Pablo Ortiz
Núcleo de Química y Bioquímica, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
Luis H. Tagle
Research Laboratory for Organic Polymers (RLOP), Faculty of Chemistry and of Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, P.O. Box 306, Post 22, Santiago, Chile
Germán Pérez
Research Laboratory for Organic Polymers (RLOP), Faculty of Chemistry and of Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, P.O. Box 306, Post 22, Santiago, Chile
César Saldias
Chemistry-Physical Department, Faculty of Chemistry and of Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Fidel E. Rodríguez-González
Research Laboratory for Organic Polymers (RLOP), Faculty of Chemistry and of Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, P.O. Box 306, Post 22, Santiago, Chile
Gustavo Cabrera-Barjas
Unit for Technology Development (UDT), Universidad de Concepción, Av. Cordillera 2634, Parque Industrial Coronel, Concepción, Chile
Henry Catalán
Research Laboratory for Organic Polymers (RLOP), Faculty of Chemistry and of Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, P.O. Box 306, Post 22, Santiago, Chile
Alain Tundidor-Camba
Research Laboratory for Organic Polymers (RLOP), Faculty of Chemistry and of Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, P.O. Box 306, Post 22, Santiago, Chile
Deysma Coll
Núcleo de Química y Bioquímica, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
Three new aromatic poly(imides) containing benzimidazole units in the backbone were synthesized and characterized by several spectroscopic techniques. Flexible spacer groups were incorporated into the poly(imides) structure to improve their solubility in organic solvents and their oxidative stabilization. All poly(imides) were thermally stable (Td5% > 512 °C) and had the ability to form dense flexible films. Novel composite films were successfully prepared by loading poly(imide) with ionic liquid ([Bmim]Br) at different concentrations up to 25 wt.%. The resulting materials were characterized according to their morphology and elemental composition (SEM-EDX), water uptake capability, contact angle, and oxidative degradation resistance. Results suggested that poly(imide)/ionic liquid composites would be excellent candidates for future proton conductivity measurements.