Process for preparation of functionalized polyimides

1. A process to make a sulfonate modified polyimide comprising blending a polyimide resin, having a number average molecular weight from 5,000 to 100,000 daltons, with an organic compound, wherein the organic compound contains at least one aliphatic primary amine functionality and at least one other functionality selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acids, sulfonic acid salts or mixtures thereof, and heating the mixture together to affect reaction.

2. A process of claim 1 wherein the organic compound has the following structure:

XO 3 S—R—CH 2 NH 2   i.

where X=H or a metal, R=alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or heterocyclic and contains at least one carbon atom.

3. A process according to claim 2 where X is hydrogen, an alkaline metal, an alkaline earth metal, zinc, tin or mixtures thereof.

4. A process according to claim 1 where said organic compound is present at 0.01 to 10.0 weight % of the whole reaction mixture.

5. A process according to claim 4 where the organic compound is present at 0.1 to 3.0 weight % of the whole reaction mixture.

6. A process according to claim 1 where said organic compound is added as an aqueous solution.

7. A process according to claim 6 where said organic compound is present at greater than or equal to 25 wt. % of the aqueous solution.

8. A process of claim 1 where the organic compound is substantially free of benzylic protons.

9. A process of claim 1 where the organic compound is substantially free of halogen atoms.

10. A process of claim 1 wherein the organic compound is selected from the group consisting of: taurine, alkaline metal salts of taurine, alkaline earth metal salts of taurine, zinc taurate and mixtures thereof.

11. A method of claim 1 wherein the polyimide resin is a polyetherimide, a polyetherimide sulfone resin or mixture thereof.

12. A process of claim 1 wherein the polyimide resin has a Tg greater than about 200° C.

13. A process of claim 1 where the polyimide resin is substantially free of benzylic protons.

14. A process of claim 1 where the polyimide resin is substantially free of halogen atoms.

15. A process of claim 1 wherein the sulfonate modified polyimide has a melt flow index as measured by ASTM D1238 at 337° C. of from 1.0 to 100.0 g/10 min.

16. A process of claim 1 where the sulfonate modified polyimide is substantially free of benzylic protons.

17. A process of claim 1 where the sulfonate modified polyimide is substantially free of halogen atoms.

18. A process of claim 1 wherein the sulfonate modified polyimide resin has a Tg greater than about 200° C.

19. A process of claim 1 wherein the polyimide and organic compound are heated in an extruder at about 200 to 400° C.

20. A composition made by the process of claim 1 .

21. An article of made from the composition of claim 20 .

22. An article of claim 21 selected from the group consisting of, a film, a sheet an adhesive and combinations thereof.

23. A process to make a sulfonate modified polyimide comprising blending a polyimide resin, having a number average molecular weight from 5,000 to 100,000 daltons, with an organic compound, wherein the organic compound contains at least one aliphatic primary amine functionality and at least one other functionality selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acids, sulfonic acid salts or mixtures thereof, and heating the mixture together to affect reaction. Further, said organic compound is present at from 0.01–10.0 wt. % of the whole mixture and is substantially free of benzylic protons and halogen atoms. The sulfonate modified polyimide has a melt flow index, as measured by ASTM 01238 at 337° C., of from 1.0 to 100.0 g/10 min.

24. A process to make a sulfonate modified polyimide comprising blending a polyimide resin, having a number average molecular weight from 5,000 to 100,000 daltons, with an organic compound, wherein the organic compound contains at least one aliphatic primary amine functionality and at least one other functionality selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acids, sulfonic acid salts or mixtures thereof, and heating the mixture together to affect reaction. Further, said organic compound is present at from 0.01–10.0 wt. % of the whole mixture and is substantially free of benzylic protons and halogen atoms. The sulfonate modified polyimide has a melt flow index, as measured by ASTM D1238 at 337° C. of from 1.0 to 100.0 g/10 min. and the mixture of polyimide and organic compound is heated at about 200 to 400° C.