Preparation and characterization of polyimide/silica/silver composite films

Abstract

Polyimide/silica/silver hybrid films were prepared by the sol-gel method combined with in situ single-stage self-metallization technique. The structure of polyimide films in the thermal curing process and the influence of silica content on the migration and aggregation of silver particles to the surface of hybrid films were investigated. The hybrid films were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy and mechanical measurements. The results indicated that there was no degradation of the polyimide matrix after the formation of silica and silver particles. Silica acted as the nucleus for the silver particles. With increasing silica content, more and more silver particles were kept in the hybrid films instead of being migrated onto the surface of the hybrid films and the reflections of hybrid films decreased gradually.

Keywords

polyimide / silica / silver / self-metallization / hybrid films