Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass polyamic acid or polyimide polymers containing a reactive maleimide end group as well as photosensitive compositions made therefrom which are useful for forming films that can be patterned to create structures for microelectronic devices, microelectronic packaging, microelectromechanical systems, optoelectronic devices and displays. In some embodiments the compositions of this invention are shown to feature excellent hitherto unachievable mechanical properties. The negative images formed therefrom exhibit improved thermo-mechanical properties, among other property enhancements.

Hydrophobic, tough, photoimageable, functionalized polyimide formulations have been discovered that can be UV cured and developed in cyclopentanone. The present invention formulations can be used as passivation and redistribution layers with patterning provided by photolithograph, for the redistribution of I/O pads on fan-out RDL applications. The curable polyimide formulations reduce stress on thin wafers, when compared to conventional polyimide formulations, and provide low modulus, hydrophobic solder mask. These materials can serve as protective layers in any applications in which a thin, flexible, and hydrophobic polymer is required, that also has high tensile strength and high elongation at break.

The invention relates to bis(aniline) compounds containing multiple arylethynyl, alkylethynyl, ethynyl groups or their combinations, processes of making such compounds and materials comprising such compounds. Such, bis(aniline) compounds preferably comprise multiple phenylethynyl (PE) groups, i.e. 2-4 PE moieties. Such compounds are useful monomers for the preparation of polyimides, polyamides and poly(amide-imides) whose post-fabrication crosslinking chemistry (i.e. reaction temperature) can be controlled by the number of PE per repeat unit as well as finding utility in thermosetting matrix resins, 3D printable resins, and as high-carbon-content precursors to carbon-carbon composites.

A dual-cure method for forming a solid polymeric structure is provided. An end-capped, imide-terminated prepolymer is combined with at least one photopolymerisable olefinic monomer, at least one photoinitiator, and a diamine, to form a curable resin composition, which, in a first step, is irradiated under conditions effective to polymerize the at least one olefinic monomer, thus forming a scaffold composed of the prepolymer and the polyolefin with the diamine trapped therein. The irradiated composition is then thermally treated at a temperature effective to cause a transimidization reaction to occur between the prepolymer and the diamine, thereby releasing the end caps of the prepolymer and providing the solid polymeric structure. A curable resin composition comprising an end-capped, imide-terminated prepolymer, at least one photopolymerisable olefinic monomer, at least one photoinitiator, and a diamine, is also provided, as are related methods of use.

A method of curing polyimide, polyimide copolymers, polyimide composites or combinations is provided. The method involves preparing a reaction system comprising poly(amic acid) and at least one other compound selected from the group consisting of copolymers, solvents, fillers and nanofillers. Then, a combined overall microwave absorptivity of the reaction system is determined. A temperature ramp rate is calculated for a microwave power level and time using the combined overall microwave absorptivity. The reaction system is then exposed to microwave radiation according to the calculated temperature ramp rate, producing a cured product.

A dual-cure method for forming a solid polymeric structure is provided. An end-capped, imide-terminated prepolymer is combined with at least one photopolymerisable olefinic monomer, at least one photoinitiator, and a diamine, to form a curable resin composition, which, in a first step, is irradiated under conditions effective to polymerize the at least one olefinic monomer, thus forming a scaffold composed of the prepolymer and the polyolefin with the diamine trapped therein. The irradiated composition is then thermally treated at a temperature effective to cause a transimidization reaction to occur between the prepolymer and the diamine, thereby releasing the end caps of the prepolymer and providing the solid polymeric structure. A curable resin composition comprising an end-capped, imide-terminated prepolymer, at least one photopolymerisable olefinic monomer, at least one photoinitiator, and a diamine, is also provided, as are related methods of use.

A dual-cure method for forming a solid polymeric structure is provided. An end-capped, imide-terminated prepolymer is combined with at least one photopolymerisable olefinic monomer, at least one photoinitiator, and a diamine, to form a curable resin composition, which, in a first step, is irradiated under conditions effective to polymerize the at least one olefinic monomer, thus forming a scaffold composed of the prepolymer and the polyolefin with the diamine trapped therein. The irradiated composition is then thermally treated at a temperature effective to cause a transimidization reaction to occur between the prepolymer and the diamine, thereby releasing the end caps of the prepolymer and providing the solid polymeric structure. A curable resin composition comprising an end-capped, imide-terminated prepolymer, at least one photopolymerisable olefinic monomer, at least one photoinitiator, and a diamine, is also provided, as are related methods of use.

A resin composition of the present invention is a resin composition containing a bismaleimide compound (A) containing a constituent unit represented by the following formula (1), and maleimide groups at both ends of the molecular chain, at least one resin or compound (B) selected from the group consisting of a maleimide compound other than the bismaleimide compound (A), a cyanate compound, a benzoxazine compound, an epoxy resin, a carbodiimide compound, and a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group, and a photo initiator (C): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sub.1 represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkenylene group having 2 to 16 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkenylene group having 2 to 16 carbon atoms; each R.sub.3 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkenyl group having 2 to 16 carbon atoms; and each n independently represents an integer of 1 to 10.

A hybrid thermoplastic-thermosettable resin composition may include a polymeric backbone formed from a thermoplastic unit, and at least one crosslinkable group bonded to the thermoplastic. A method of forming a hybrid thermoplastic-thermosettable resin composition may include reacting a thermoplastic to introduce a cross-linkable group to form the thermoplastic-thermosettable resin composition. A method of forming a hybrid thermoplastic-thermoset resin may include providing a hybrid thermoplastic-thermosettable resin composition comprising a polymeric backbone formed from a thermoplastic unit, and at least one crosslinkable group bonded to the thermoplastic; and curing the hybrid thermoplastic-thermosettable resin composition by an external stimulus to form the hybrid thermoplastic-thermoset resin.

The present invention relates to a modified polyimide including a terminal group represented by Formula 1:

##STR00001## wherein D is a heat curable or photocurable functional group, R is a divalent or higher polyvalent organic group, and n is an integer of 1 or greater. The modified polyimide undergoes less reduction in transmittance and is protected from discoloration when cured. Due to these advantages, the modified polyimide can provide a highly transparent colorless polyimide film. Particularly, the modified polyimide is suitable for use in display substrates, interlayer insulating films of semiconductor devices, passivation films, buffer coat films, insulating films for multilayer printed circuit boards, insulating films of OLEDs, and protective films of thin film transistors of liquid crystal display devices. The present invention also relates to a curable composition including the modified polyimide.