Abstract
Photoconduction of thermally stable polymers was investigated by means of electrophotographic imaging technique. The materials were studied in the form of thin films coated on aluminum sheets. It was found that poly (benzoxazole-imide) exhibits the highest photoconductivity in the materials investigated and that it can be used as an excellent electrophotographic sensitive layer. Aromatic polyimide, polybenzoxazole, polybenzimidazopyrrolone, and poly(imide-imidazopyrrolone) were also found to be highly photosensitive. These results do not mean, however, that any hetero-cyclic polymer is photosensitive. Aliphatic polyimide and polybenzoxazinone do not exhibit electrophotographic sensitivity. Based on these and other results, the relationship between chemical structure of the polymers and their photoconductive property was discussed. It came to the conclusion that photoconduction of heterocyclic thermally stable polymers is related intimately with photoconduction of heterocycles contained in its recurring unit. In the case of poly(benzoxazole-imide) it was certified that the essential element for its photoconductive properties are benzoxazole and benzimide rings by measuring photoconductivity of model compounds.
