Thermally Moldable Aromatic Polyimides for Aerospace Applications

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of representative thermoplastic and thermosetting aromatic polyimide resins developed for spacecraft and aircraft applications. The electron beam resistance of conventional engineer plastics is also overviewed. Furthermore, both “thermoplastic aromatic polyimide film” and “thermosetting imide oligomer resin” developed using monomers with non-planar, and asymmetric structures are introduced as membrane materials for the solar power sail demonstrator “IKAROS” and as matrix resins of high-heat-resistant carbon fiber composites toward high-temperature aircraft applications.