Surface texture and density–density correlation in films of adamantane-containing polyimides and copolyimides

By means of electron microscopy, the spatial correlation of gold nanoparticles are studied, obtained by thermal vacuum sputtering of metal on a bromine-activated surface of films of adamantane-containing polyimides and copolyimides based on pyromellitic anhydride (PMDA), 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA), and 1-aminoethyl-3-(4'-aminophenyl)adamantane (AEAPhA) or 3,4,3',4'-tetracarboxydiphenyloxide dianhydride (ODPA), ODA, and AEAPhA with varying ratio of ODA and AEAPhA fragments. It is shown that with increasing ratio of mole fractions [AEAPhA]/[ODA], the texture of the film surface, free volume, the correlation length, and the frequency of alternation of the particle distribution density change. The shortrange order decreases, while the long-range order increases in ensembles of particles. The supramolecular structure of the polymer is transformed similarly because of structural transitions in the amorphous state of ODPA–ODA–AEAPhA and the mesomorphic state of PMDA–ODA–AEAPhA.