Synthesis of novel hyperbranched polyimide for liquid crystal alignment

Abstract

A novel hyperbranched polyimide (HPPI) was synthesized from a new four‐functional amine and 1,2,3,4‐cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride. The polyimide with hyperbranched structure exhibited excellent alignment for nematic liquid crystal (LC) compared with traditional linear polyimides. The solution viscosities of the poly(amic acids) (PAAs) and the surface morphology of PI films were investigated using an Ubbelhode‐type viscometer and atomic force microscopy, respectively. The viscosities of the hyperbranched PAAs were much lower than that of the linear PAA solution at any monomer ratio (amine:dianhydride). Pretilt angles of LCs above 2.8° were achieved with HPPI.

Keywords:

• hyperbranched polyimide
• linear polyimide
• liquid crystal alignment
• pretilt angle

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50773045) and Science and Technology Innovation Foundation of Sichuan University (No. 2005CF09), and we thank Professor Makoto Takeishi for helpful discussions.