Synthesis and characterization of novel piezoelectric nitrile copolyimide films for high temperature sensor applications

A series of amorphous polyimides and copolyimides that contained nitrile were obtained by a two-step procedure. The first step consisted of a polycondensation reaction of 4,4’-oxydiphtalic anhydride (ODPA) with one or two aromatic diamines, namely 1,3-Bis-2-cyano-3-(3-aminophenoxy)phenoxybenzene (diamine 2CN) and 1,3-Bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene (diamine 0CN). In the second step, a thermal cyclodehydration converted each poly(amic acid) or copoly(amic acid) into their corresponding polyimide films. The piezoelectric response was improved after corona poling of the films. A maximum d33 modulus value of 16 pC N−1 was obtained for the polymide with two cyano groups (poly 2CN). The polarization also showed time and thermal stability up to 160 °C. Additionally, the thermal stability of the amorphous polyimides, (β-CN)APB/ODPA, was studied by determining the glass transition temperature (T g ) and thermal decomposition through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG), respectively. The high piezoelectric response (1–16 pC N−1), T g (160–180 °C) and degradation temperature (315–450 °C) make such polyamides excellent candidates for use as high temperature sensors.