Structural, thermal, micromechanical and electrical study of polyimide composite thin films incorporating indium tin oxide

• Published in: Polymer international Vol. 59; no. 9; pp. 1266 - 1272
• Main Authors: Gupta, Anand Kumar, Garg, Roopa, Keller, Jag Mohan, Balakrishnan, Vettai Raman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.09.2010; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; composite; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; indium tin oxide; polyimide; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; UV-visible and electrical characterization; Polyimide; Strengthening; Electrical conductivity; Electrical properties; Aromatic polymer; Mechanical properties; indium tin oxide; Dispersion reinforced material; Condensation polymerization; Crystallinity; Experimental study; UV-visible and electrical characterization; Composite material; Tensile strength; Thermal stability; Thermal properties; Morphology; Tin oxide; Preparation; composite; Concentration effect
• ISSN: 0959-8103; 1097-0126
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.2862

Studies of composite films incorporating inorganic materials are of immense importance for current technological applications. Polyimide (PI) composite thin films incorporating indium tin oxide (ITO) at various weight ratios were processed using an in situ generation approach. The resultant product was imidized up to 350 °C to test the ability of the material to endure high temperatures without affecting the host matrix. The morphological behaviour of the PI/ITO composite films was investigated using Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy characterization techniques. The degrees of crystallinity and ITO particle size within the PI matrix were studied using X‐ray diffraction. The thermal, structural and electrical properties were analysed using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, UV‐visible spectroscopy and the four‐probe technique. The micromechanical properties of the composites were evaluated in terms of tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation. An overall improvement in the properties of the composite films was observed in comparison to those of pure PI. The synergistic improvement in the composite films is associated with the interaction mechanism between ITO and PI, where ITO becomes dispersed and interacts within the PI matrix. This leads to a decrease in available free‐space volume and increases the surface enrichment providing reinforcement to the matrix. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry A synergistic improvement in polyimide (PI)/indium tin oxide (ITO) composite film properties is associated with the interaction mechanism between ITO and PI, where ITO becomes dispersed and interacts within the PI matrix. This leads to a decrease in free‐volume space and increases the surface enrichment providing reinforcement to the matrix.