Fabrication and Investigation on the Polyimide/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Composite Films via Ion Exchange Technology

Polyimide/Al 2 O 3 films were prepared by the surface modification with different hydrolysis time, ion exchange technique and heat treatment using polyimide films as the substrates and aluminum chloride as the precursor of Al 2 O 3 . The morphology, thermal properties and electrical properties of the composite films were characterized and tested. The results indicated the alumina distributed in certain thickness on the surface of the films and there was a clear interface layer between the alumina layer and the substrate. The breakdown strength of the composite films maintains the excellent properties of the pristine film while the thermal and corona-resistant time properties of composite films were better than the pristine film due to introducing aluminum oxide. The composite film which used KOH to treat for 90 min has the longest corona-resistant time (101.2 min), which was almost 10 times longer than the pristine film.