This volume chronicles the proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Polyimides and Other High Temperature Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications, held in Orlando, December 17-19, 2003. This volume is divided into three parts. Part 1. “Synthesis, Properties and Bulk Characterization”; Part 2 “Hybrids and Composites” and Part 3 “Applications and General Papers”. The topics covered include: Synthesis, characterization and processing (including some novel approaches) of a variety of polyimides and other high temperature polymers; structure-property relationships; hybrids and nanocomposites using these materials and their characterization, properties and applications; segmental dynamics in polyimide materials; photoalignable polyimides; photoconductivity and photosensitivity of polyimides; ultrafiltration membranes from polyetherimide; polyimide as a tunneling barrier; polymer materials for nonlinear optical applications; alignment of SWNTs in rigid-rod polymer compositions; surface modification of polyimide; adhesion of Cu to polyimide surfaces; and polyimide erosion in a low Earth orbit space environment.

The topics covered in this proceedings volume include: Synthesis, characterization and processing (including some novel approaches) of a variety of polyimides and other high temperature polymers; structure-property relationships; segmental dynamics in polyimide materials; photoalignable polyimides; photoconductivity and photosensitivity of polyimides; ultrafiltration membranes from polyetherimide; polymer materials for nonlinear optical applications; alignment of SWNTs in rigid-rod polymer compositions; surface modification of polyimide; adhesion of Cu to polyimide surfaces; and polyimide erosion in a low Earth orbit space environment.

The aim of this project was to synthesize polyimides that exhibit second order nonlinear optic behavior and to fabricate a Low Driving Voltage Electro-optic Modulator. Undergraduate and graduate students were involved in all aspects of this project. A high temperature polyimide that had a NLO chromophore incorporated was synthesized and its properties characterized. The E-O Coefficient of the polyimide was determined to be 1.98pm/V and expected to have a driving voltage of 9.0 volts. In the detailed analysis of the design of the E-O Modulator Single-arm Interferometer it was determined that the waveguide should have two modes. In the design of the Modulator a new method of coupling light using micro-scratches was tested.

Reports the synthesis of fully functionalized polyurethane and polyimide-based polymers having charge transport units and nonlinear optical chromophores available in each repeat unit of the polymer. These polymers, when doped with charge generators, should exhibit photorefractive behavior.