Direct Ink Writing of Phenylethynyl End-Capped Oligoimide/SiO 2 to Additively Manufacture High-Performance Thermosetting Polyimide Composites.

The three-dimensional (3D) printing of a SiO 2 -filled thermosetting polyimide (SiO 2 @TSPI) composite with outstanding performance is realized via the direct ink writing (DIW) of polyamide acid (PAA) composite ink and thermal treatment conducted thereafter. The composite ink consists of phenylethynyl-terminated PAA and silica nanoparticles, where the SiO 2 nanoparticles serve as the rheology modifier that is necessary for the DIW technique to obtain self-supporting feedstock during 3D printing and the reinforcement filler that is used to enhance the performance of the final composite. As a result, printed parts with complex geometry and robust thermal stability are obtained. Due to the extrusion-based DIW technique, the printed structures exhibit anisotropic mechanical strength that highly depends on printing roads. This simple and convenient means of realizing 3D structures of thermosetting polyimides is a promising strategy in aerospace and other fields.