Three new siloxane containing grafted copolyimides have been prepared by one-pot solution imidization technique. The polymers are made by the reaction of 4,4'-(4,4'-isopropylidenediphenoxy)bis(phthalic anhydride) (BPADA) with commercially available diamine 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) with variation of silicon containing diamine, namely 3,5-diaminobenzoate terminated polydimethylsiloxane (DBPDMS), as a comonomer to 10, 20, and 30 wt %. The films of the polymers were prepared by casting the polymer solution in dichloromethane. The polymers have been well-characterized by GPC, IR, and NMR techniques. Thermal stabilities and decomposition behavior of the copolyimides were studied by DSC and TGA. The water contact angle values of the films indicate hydrophobic nature of the polymers. Thermal, flame retardant, mechanical, and surface properties of these polymers have been compared with the homopolyimide and with polyimides where polysiloxane is incorporated in the main chain. DSC revealed melting of the grafted siloxane chain at sub-ambient temperature and a glass transition corresponding to the main polymer chain above 200 degrees C. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012