This volume draws from the proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Polyimides and Other High Temperature Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications, held in Savannah, GA, November 7-8, 2005. It contains 14 peer-reviewed papers addressing many aspects and new developments regarding these materials. This collection offers a wealth of information while presenting a broad stroke of current commentary on this technologically important field.

From the Preface: “...Currently, there is tremendous activity in improving upon the eexisting materials and synthesizing new materials to meet specific requirements. The field of nanocomposites using these materials has seen an explosive growth in the recent past and all signals indicate that the activity in this burgeoning area will continue unabated. As new and improved polyimides and other allied high temperature materials become available, their new applications will emerge...”

Target Audience: Academic and industrial scientists and technologists, as well as upper-level students, interested in the fundamental or applied aspects of this topic.

Table of Contents:

Synthesis and Bulk Characterization:

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Fluorinated Polyimides

A Modified Approach for Synthesizing Pyridine-Containing Poly(imide-siloxane) Co-Polymers and Their Characterization

Studies on Imidization of Poly(ester-amine salt) Precursors to Polyimides

Liquid Crystalline Structures and Crystallization Morphology in Aromatic Bisimides and Their Blends with Semicrystalline Polyimide

Surfaces and Interface Aspects (Composites and Metallization):

Development and Properties of Designed CeramImide Materials for Advanced High-Performance and High-Temperature Applications

Polyimide Matrices for Carbon—Carbon Composites with Turbostratic Structure

Polyimide Nanocomposite Coating Materials with Special Functions

Molecular Assembly of Polyimides and Oligoimides with Direct Covalent Bonding: A Pathway to Robust Structures

Silver—Polyimide Naoncomposite Films: A Single-Stage Thermally-Induced Metallization of Aromatic Fluorinated Polyimides Yielding Highly Reflective Films

Electroless Metallization of Polyimides

Applications:

Characterization of Orientational Ordering of Liquid Crystalline Molecules Deposited on Polyimide Langmuir—Blodgett Films by Optical Polarized Absorption and Optical Second-Harmonic Generation Measurements

Highly Sulfonated Poly(arylenethioethersulfone)s as Proton-Exchange Membranes (PEMs) for Fuel Cells: Synthesis, Characterization and Performance

High-Temperature Polymer Dielectrics for Capacitive Energy-Storage Applications

Concepts of Textile Composites for Short- and Long-Term Applications at High Temperatures