Aliphatic Polybenzimidazoles: Synthesis, Characterization and High-Temperature Shape-Memory Performance.

A series of aliphatic polybenzimidazoles (PBIs) with methylene groups of varying length were synthesized by the high-temperature polycondensation of 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and the corresponding aliphatic dicarboxylic acid in Eaton's reagent. The influence of the length of the methylene chain on PBIs' properties was investigated by solution viscometry, thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical testing and dynamic mechanical analysis. All PBIs exhibited high mechanical strength (up to 129.