Aromatic polyimides with flexible and rigid chains

The results of studies in recent years on the synthesis of polyimides with chains which are both flexible and rigid to the maximum extent are surveyed. The characteristic features of the formation of these polymers, their properties, and certain aspects of their practical applications are considered. It is shown that the thermodynamic rigidity of the macromolecules is one of the principal factors which determines the most important properties of polyimides and the materials based on them.The bibliography includes 85 references.