Polyimide Materials and Their Thermal-Dimensional Properties

Polyimides are a class of high-performance polymers distinguished by imide linkages in their backbone. They combine exceptional thermal stability, mechanical strength and chemical resistance, alongside versatile processability into films, fibres and coatings. A defining feature of polyimide films is their thermal-dimensional behaviour, typically measured by coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) and volumetric expansion. Control of CTE is critical for applications requiring tight dimensional tolerances, such as flexible displays, printed circuit boards and aerospace components. Molecular design strategies—ranging from incorporation of semi-alicyclic segments to rigid-rod or crosslinkable moieties—allow precise tuning of polymer chain mobility and free volume. These modifications influence glass transition temperatures (Tg), decomposition thresholds and expansion characteristics. Matching CTE to that of metallic substrates prevents delamination and thermal stress. Advances in imidization chemistry and copolymerisation have yielded transparent, low-CTE films capable of withstanding temperatures above 300 °C while maintaining mechanical toughness. Emerging approaches exploit interchain crosslinking and hybrid architectures to suppress volumetric expansion and promote dimensional stability under thermal cycling. Such developments underpin global applications in microelectronics, aerospace, optoelectronics and high-frequency communications.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Polyimide Materials and Their Thermal-Dimensional Properties publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in polyimide materials and their thermal-dimensional properties across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Polyimide: A polymer containing recurring imide rings, noted for high thermal stability and mechanical strength.

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE): A measure of dimensional change per degree temperature change, usually expressed in ppm K⁻¹.

Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): The temperature at which an amorphous polymer transitions from a rigid to a rubbery state, influencing thermal and mechanical properties.

References

1. Development of Solution-Processable, Optically Transparent Polyimides with Ultra-Low Linear Coefficients of Thermal Expansion. Polymers (2017).
2. Mixed Rigid and Flexible Component Design for High-Performance Polyimide Films. Polymers (2017).
3. Reduced Coefficients of Linear Thermal Expansion of Colorless and Transparent Semi-Alicyclic Polyimide Films via Incorporation of Rigid-Rod Amide Moiety: Preparation and Properties. Polymers (2020).
4. Effective Reduction of Volumetric Thermal Expansion of Aromatic Polyimide Films by Incorporating Interchain Crosslinking. Polymers (2018).