Benzimidazole diamine-based polyetherimide compositions and methods for making them

1. A polyetherimide composition comprising structural units of the formula:

derived from at least one benzimidazole diamine, wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 –C 6 alkyl groups;

“A” comprises structural units of the formulae:

wherein “D” is a divalent aromatic group, R 3 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, and C 1 –C 6 alkyl groups; “q” is an integer having a value of 1 up to the number of positions available on the aromatic ring for substitution; and “k” and “l” are integers independently having values greater than 1; and

“B” comprises substituted and unsubstituted arylene groups having from about 6 to about 25 carbon atoms.

2. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , comprising structural units derived from 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole.

3. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , wherein “D” has the formula:

wherein A 1 is an aromatic group, E is an alkylene, an alkylidene, a cycloaliphatic group; a sulfur-containing linkage, a phosphorus-containing linkage; an ether linkage, a carbonyl group, a tertiary nitrogen group, or a silicon-containing linkage; Y 1 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, alkenyl, allyl, halogen, bromine, chlorine; and nitro; wherein “m” represents any integer from and including zero through the number of positions on A 1 available for substitution; R 4 is a hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, wherein “p” represents an integer from and including zero through the number of positions on E available for substitution; “t” represents an integer equal to at least one; “s” represents an integer equal to either zero or one; and “u” represents any integer including zero.

4. The polyetherimide composition of claim 3 , wherein “E” is a moiety selected from the group consisting of cyclopentylidene, cyclohexylidene, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexylidene, methylcyclohexylidene, neopentylidene, cyclododecylidene, adamantylidene, isopropylidene, bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylidene, 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylidene, C═CZ 2 , wherein each Z is hydrogen, chlorine, or bromine, subject to the provision that at least one Z is chlorine or bromine; and mixtures of the foregoing moieties.

5. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , wherein “B” is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted phenylene groups.

6. The polyetherimide composition of claim 5 , wherein “B” comprises structural units derived from a diamine, wherein the mole ratio of said diamine to said benzimidazole diamine is in a range of between about 1:10 to about 10:1.

7. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , wherein “B” is derived from at least one diamine selected from the group consisting of meta-phenylene diamine, para-phenylene diamine, 2,6-diethyl-4-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4,6-diethyl-2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,6-diaminotoluene, 2,6-bis(mercaptomethyl)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine, 4,6-bis(mercaptomethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, bis(2-chloro-4-amino-3,5-diethylphenyl)methane, 4,4′-oxydianiline, 3,4′-oxydianiline, 3,3′-oxydianiline, 1,2-bis(4-aminoanilino)cyclobutene-3,4-dione, 1,3-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene, 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene, 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxybenzene), 3,3′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)sulfone, bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenoxy)sulfone, 4,4′-bis(3-aminophenoxy)biphenyl, 4,4′-bis(4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl, 2,2′-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl, 2,2′-bis(4-(4-bis(aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane, 3,3′-diaminobenzophenone, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether, 3,3′-diaminodiphenylmethane, benzidine, 3,3′-dimethylbenzidine, 3,3′-dimethoxybenzidine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfide, 2,2′-bis(4-aminophenyl)propane, and mixtures of the foregoing diamines.

8. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , wherein “A” is selected from the group consisting of:

and mixtures thereof.

9. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , wherein “A” comprises structural units derived from at least two dianhydrides.

10. The polyetherimide composition of claim 9 , wherein the mole ratio of two dianhydrides is in a range of between about 1:9 to about 9:1.

11. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , wherein “k” and “l” are integers independently having values from 1 to about 50.

12. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , wherein said polyetherimide is a block or a random copolymer.

13. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , wherein said polyetherimide is a random copolymer.

14. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , further comprising structural units derived from at least one chain stopper selected from the group consisting of mono-anhydride and mono-amines.

15. The polyetherimide composition of claim 1 , having a glass transition temperature of greater than about 230° C.

16. A polyetherimide composition comprising structural units of the formula:

derived from at least one benzimidazole diamine, wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 –C 6 alkyl groups; “A” comprises structural units of the formulae:

or mixtures of the foregoing structural units;

wherein and “k” and “l” are integers independently having a value of greater than 1;

“B” comprises substituted and unsubstituted arylene groups having from about 6 to about 25 carbon atoms.

17. The polyetherimide composition of claim 16 , comprising structural units derived from 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole.

18. The polyetherimide composition of claim 16 , wherein “A” comprises structural units derived from at least two dianhydrides.

19. The polyetherimide composition of claim 18 , wherein the mole ratio of two dianhydrides is in a range of between about 1:9 to about 9:1.

20. The polyetherimide composition of claim 16 , wherein “B” is derived from a diamine selected from the group consisting of meta-phenylene diamine, para-phenylene phenylene diamine, 2,6-diethyl-4-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4,6-diethyl-2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,6-diaminotoluene, bis(2-chloro-4-amino-3,5-diethylphenyl)methane, 4,4′-oxydianiline, 3,4′-oxydianiline, 3,3′-oxydianiline, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, 3,3′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, and mixtures of the foregoing diamines.

21. The polyetherimide composition of claim 20 , wherein the mole ratio of said diamine to said benzimidazole diamine is in a range of between about 1:10 to about 10:1.

22. The polyetherimide composition of claim 16 , wherein “k” and “l” are integers independently having values from about 1 to about 50.

23. The polyetherimide composition of claim 16 , wherein said polyetherimide is a block or a random copolymer.

24. The polyetherimide composition of claim 16 , wherein said polyetherimide is a random copolymer.

25. The polyetherimide composition of claim 16 , further comprising structural units derived from at least one chain stopper selected from the group consisting of aliphatic mono-anhydrides, aromatic mono-anhydrides, phthalic anhydride, substituted phthalic anhydrides, aliphatic mono-amines, aromatic mono-amines, aniline, alkylated anilines and t-butyl aniline.

26. A polyetherimide composition comprising structural units of the formula:

derived from 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole; wherein “A” comprises structural units of the formulae:

or mixtures of the foregoing structural units;

wherein “k” and “l” are integers independently having a value of greater than 1;

“B” is an arylene group derived from at least one second diamine selected from the group consisting of 1,3-phenylene diamine, 1,4-phenylene diamine, 2,6-diethyl-4-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4,6-diethyl-2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, methylene bis(2-chloro-3,5-diethyl-4-phenylene) diamine, 2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4,4′-oxydianiline, 3,4′-oxydianiline, 3,3′-oxydianiline, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, 3,3′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, and mixtures of the foregoing diamines.

27. The polyetherimide composition of claim 26 , wherein the mole ratio of said second diamine and 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole is in a range of between about 10:1 to about 1:10.

28. The polyetherimide composition of claim 26 , wherein “k” and “l” are integers independently having values from 1 to about 50.

29. The polyetherimide composition of claim 26 , wherein said polyetherimide is a block or a random copolymer.

30. The polyetherimide composition of claim 26 , wherein said polyetherimide is a random copolymer.

31. The polyetherimide composition of claim 26 , further comprising structural units derived from at least one chain stopper selected from the group consisting of aliphatic mono-anhydrides, aromatic mono-anhydrides, phthalic anhydride, substituted phthalic anhydrides, aliphatic mono-amines, aromatic mono-amines, aniline, alkylated anilines and t-butyl aniline.

32. A polyetherimide composition consisting essentially of structural units of the formula:

derived from 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole; wherein “A” consists essentially of structural units of the formulae:

or mixtures of the foregoing structural units;

wherein “k” and “l” are integers independently having a value of greater than 1; and

“B” is an arylene group derived from at least one second diamine selected from the group consisting of 1,3-phenylene diamine, 1,4-phenylene diamine, 2,6-diethyl-4-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4,6-diethyl-2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, methylene bis(2-chloro-3,5-diethyl-4-phenylene) diamine, 2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4,4′-oxydianiline, 3,4′-oxydianiline, 3,3′-oxydianiline, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, 3,3′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, and mixtures of the foregoing diamines.

33. The polyetherimide composition of claim 32 , wherein the mole ratio of said second diamine and 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole is in a range of between about 10:1 to about 1:10.

34. The polyetherimide composition of claim 32 , wherein “k” and “l” are integers independently having values from 1 to about 50.

35. The polyetherimide composition of claim 32 , wherein said polyetherimide is a block or a random copolymer.

36. The polyetherimide composition of claim 30 , wherein said polyetherimide is a random copolymer.

37. The polyetherimide composition of claim 32 , further comprising structural units derived from at least one chain stopper selected from the group consisting of aliphatic mono-anhydrides, aromatic mono-anhydrides, phthalic anhydride, substituted phthalic anhydrides, aliphatic mono-amines, aromatic mono-amines, aniline, alkylated anilines and t-butyl aniline.

38. A method of producing a polyetherimide composition, said method comprising:

reacting a dianhydride composition with a first diamine composition comprising a benzimidazole diamine and a second diamine in a solvent to form a poly(amic acid), and

imidizing said poly(amic acid) to form said polyetherimide composition,

wherein said polyetherimide composition comprises structural units of the formula:

wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen, and C 1 –C 6 alkyl groups;

“A” comprises structural units of the formulae:

wherein “D” is a divalent aromatic group, R 3 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, and C 1 –C 6 alkyl groups; “q” is an integer having a value of 1 up to the number of positions available on the aromatic ring for substitution; k” and “l” are integers independently having a value greater than 1;

“B” comprises substituted and unsubstituted arylene groups having from about 6 to about 25 carbon atoms.

39. The method of claim 38 , wherein said first diamine comprises 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole.

40. The method of claim 38 , wherein “B” is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted phenylene groups.

41. The method of claim 38 , wherein the mole ratio of said second diamine to said benzimidazole diamine is in a range of between about 1:10 to about 10:1.

42. The method of claim 38 , wherein said second diamine comprises at least one diamine selected from the group consisting of meta-phenylene diamine, para-phenylene diamine, 2,6-diethyl-4-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 4,6-diethyl-2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,6-diaminotoluene, 2,6-bis(mercaptomethyl)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine, 4,6-bis(mercaptomethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-phenylene diamine, bis(2-chloro-4-amino-3,5-diethylphenyl)methane, 4,4′-oxydianiline, 3,4′-oxydianiline, 3,3′-oxydianiline, 1,2-bis(4-aminoanilino)cyclobutene-3,4-dione, 1,3-bis(3′-aminophenoxy)benzene, 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene, 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene, 3,3′-diaminophenylsulfone, 4,4′-diaminophenylsulfone, bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)sulfone, bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl)sulfone, 4,4′-bis(3-aminophenoxy)biphenyl, 4,4′-bis(4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl, 2,2′-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)propane, 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diaminophenyl ether, 3,3′-diaminodiphenylmethane, benzidine, 3,3′-dimethylbenzidine, 3,3′-dimethoxybenzidine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfide, 2,2′-bis(4-aminophenyl)propane, and mixtures of the foregoing diamines.

43. The method of claim 38 , wherein “A” comprises structural units derived from 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride; or 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride.

44. The method of claim 38 , wherein “A” comprises structural units derived from at least two dianhydrides.

45. The polyetherimide composition of claim 44 , wherein the mole ratio of two dianhydrides is in a range of between about 1:9 to about 9:1.

46. The method of claim 38 , wherein said solvent is at least one selected from the group consisting of ortho-dichlorobenzene, para-dichlorobenzene, meta-dichlorobenzene, mixtures of the isomeric dichlorobenzene, para-dichlorobenzene, meta-trichlorobenzene, mixtures of the isomeric trichlorobenzenes, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol, N-methylpyrrolidinone, N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, bis(2-methoxyethyl)ether, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, chloroform, sulfolane, meta-cresol, veratrole, anisole, and mixtures of the foregoing solvents.

47. The method of claim 38 , wherein said method further comprises adding at least one chain stopper.

48. The method of claim 47 , wherein said chain-stopper comprises at least one of a mono-anhydride or a mono-amine.

49. The method of claim 47 , wherein said chain-stopper is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic mono-anhydrides, aromatic mono-anhydrides, phthalic anhydride, substituted phthalic anhydrides, aliphatic mono-amines, aromatic mono-amines, aniline, alkylated anilines and t-butyl aniline.

50. The method of claim 47 , wherein said chain-stopper is used in an amount from about 1 mole percent to about 10 mole percent based on a total moles of said dianhydride composition and said diamine composition.

51. The method of claim 47 , wherein said chain-stopper is used in an amount from about 2 mole percent to about 10 mole percent based on total moles of said dianhydride composition and said diamine composition.

52. The method of claim 38 , wherein said polyetherimide composition is isolated.

53. The method of claim 38 , wherein said method further comprises use of a polymerization catalyst.

54. The method of claim 53 , wherein said catalyst comprises hexaalkyl guanidinium salts, Group IA metal carboxylic acid salts, or Group IIB metal carboxylic acid salts.

55. A method of producing a polyetherimide composition, said method comprising:

reacting a dianhydride composition comprising 2,2′-isopropylidene-bis-(4-phenyleneoxy-4-phthalic acid)dianhydride with a diamine composition comprising 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole and meta-phenylenediamine in a solvent to form a poly(amic acid),

adding a chain-stopper comprising aliphatic mono-anhydrides, aromatic mono-anhydrides, phthalic anhydride, substituted phthalic anhydrides, aliphatic mono-amines, aromatic mono-amines, aniline, alkylated anilines or t-butyl aniline; and

imidizing said poly(amic acid) to form said polyetherimide composition.

56. The method of claim 55 , wherein the mole ratio of amount of 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5(6)-aminobenzimidazole to meta-phenylenediamine is in a range of between about 10:1 to about 1:10.

57. The method of claim 55 , wherein said solvent is at least one selected from the group consisting of ortho-dichlorobenzene, para-dichlorobenzene, meta-dichlorobenzene, mixtures of isomeric dichlorobenzenes: 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, mixtures of isomeric trichlorobenzenes, 1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol, N-methylpyrrolidinone, N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, bis(2-methoxyethyl)ether, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, chloroform, sulfolane, meta-cresol, veratrole, anisole, and mixtures of the foregoing solvents.

58. The method of claim 55 , wherein said polyetherimide composition is isolated.

59. An article comprising the polyetherimide composition of claim 1 .

60. An article comprising the polyetherimide composition prepared in accordance with the method of claim 55 .

61. The article of claim 59 , wherein said article comprises films or fibers.

62. The article of claim 60 , wherein said article comprises films or fibers.