Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: An Effective Tool to Modify the Functional Properties of Thermally Stable Polyimide Films

A series of polyimide/metal oxide (either ZrO₂ or TiO₂) nanocomposite films were fabricated based on two polymer matrices. The prepared films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and their thermal and mechanical properties were investigated with the use of thermogravimetric (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermomechanical analysis (TMA). We have found out that functional properties of the obtained materials are determined by a number of factors, not only the type, size, surface functionality, and concentration of the nanofiller, but also the chemical structure of the matrix polyimide. We have demonstrated some trends in the thermal and mechanical behavior of the materials depending on these features. The data could be of great interest in the areas where new materials with improved functional characteristics are needed.