The presence of pendant hydroxyl groups on the polyimide chains in a polyimide/silica system significantly modifies morphology, enhances compatibility between the phases, reduces silica network size and generates co-continuous networks structures. Compatibilizing power of pendant hydroxyl groups increases significantly when used concurrently with coupling oligomers laden with such functional groups that help in establishing either chemical bonds and/or strong physical interactions. The effect of hydroxyl groups on the silica micro-structures, compatibility, thermal and thermo-mechanical...