Process for preparing polyimide composites

Claim 1

A process for preparing high quality fiber reinforced polyimide matrix composites having a void content of less than 1%, at moderate melt-consolidation pressures comprising a) forming a prepreg by combining fiber with a molecular weight limiting polyimide precursor solution of i) at least one aromatic diamine and a molar excess of at least one aromatic dianhydride or functional equivalent thereof; ii) at least one aromatic diamine and at least one aromatic dianhydride or functional equivalent thereof in stoichiometric proportions and an aromatic monoanhydride or functional equivalent thereof; or iii) at least one aromatic dianhydride or functional equivalent thereof and a molar excess of at least one aromatic diamine and an aromatic monoanhydride or functional equivalent thereof in amount sufficient to end-cap the molar excess of diamine; b) polymerizing the precursors and devolatilizing the product by heating until the volatiles are substantially removed; c) heating the devolatilized product to a temperature above the glass transition temperature until the melt viscosity of the polymer is sufficiently low to permit melt-consolidating without substantial degradation at a pressure of under 650 pounds per square inch; d) melt-consolidating the product to reduce void content below 1%; and e) heating the product until the glass transition temperature of the resulting product is equal to or greater than that of the polymer prepared from stoichiometric proportions of the same polyimide precursors.