Preparation of PS-g-PA6 copolymers by anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam using PS precursors with N-carbamated caprolactam pendants as macroactivators

The graft copolymer of polystyrene and polyamide 6 (PS-g-PA6) was investigated by anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam (CL), using the free radical copolymer of styrene and a kind of allyl monomer containing N-carbamated caprolactam group as macroactivator (PS-CCL). CL monomers were grafted onto PS-CCL backbone via initiating N-carbamated caprolactam (CCL) pendants along its backbone to form the graft copolymer in the presence of catalyst sodium caprolactamate. The macroactivator was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance, and the graft copolymer by the selective solvent extraction technique using methanol and chloroform as solvents. PS-g-PA6 copolymers with different PS content were synthesized to study the effect of PS on morphology, crystallinity, dimensional stability, and thermal properties, using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, water absorption measurement, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The results show the percentage crystallinity of graft copolymer decreases with increasing PS content, but the addition of PS scarcely influences the crystalline structure of PA6. The graft copolymer has improved thermal properties and dimensional stability. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Kinetics of anionic polymerization of lactams. (Solution of non-isothermal kinetic problems by the inverse method)

Wide use has been made of non-isothermic studies for obtaining kinetic data on the anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactam and ω-dodecalactam. Data are obtained by measuring changes in reaction temperature, under conditions of heat exchange with the surroundings and by solving the inverse thermophysical problem. This solution yields kinetic constants, which when substituted into heat conduction and kinetic equations minimize the deviations of calculated temperature dependences on time and the deviations in experimental data. Thus, we have studied qualitatively the polymerization of lactams. Numerical values of the basic kinetic constants in the macrokinetic scheme have been determined. Some new effects, such as self-acceleration in the polymerization of caprolactam and the increase of the apparent activation energy at high degrees of conversion in the polymerization of dodecalactam were detected. The approach may be useful in studying other polymerizations.     

Polymerization of lactams, 49. Hydrolytic polymerization of 6-caprolactam in the presence of its cyclic dimer

The hydrolytic polymerization of 6-caprolactam has been studied at 260–280°C in the presence of 5, 10 and 15 mol-% of cyclic dimer of 6-caprolactam and 2 mol-% of 6-aminocaproic acid as an initiator. The content of monomer and cyclic oligomers, including pentamer, was determined by HPLC. It has been proved that the rate of polymerization decreases with increasing content of cyclic dimer in the initial mixture and the time required to attain the equilibrium content of polymer increases as much as by an order of magnitude. The cyclic dimer is incorporated into the polymer above all in the final reaction stage.     

Mechanism and kinetics of adiabatic anionic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam in the presence of various activators

Nylon 6 was prepared by adiabatic anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactam using hexamethylene dicarbamoyl dicaprolactam (HDC), cyclohexyl carbamoyl caprolactam (CCC), or phenyl carbamoyl caprolactam (PCC) as activators and sodium caprolactamate (NaCL) as a catalyst at various initial reaction temperatures ranging from 130 to 160°C. Adiabatic temperature rise was recorded as a function of polymerization time to investigate polymerization kinetics. Kinetic parameters for polymerization, which are more accurate than data reported to date, could be obtained by fitting the temperature rise data with a new polymerization kinetic equation involving crystallization exotherm and thermal conduction. The polymerization rate highly depended on the chemical structure of the activator used, which indicates that the initiating step where the activator is attacked nucleophilically by NaCL is a very important reaction step, affecting the overall polymerization rate. CCC showed the fastest polymerization rate, whereas HDC and PCC showed the medium and the slowest rate, respectively. The contributions of crystallization exotherm and thermal conduction to the resultant temperature rise during polymerization were significant, when the initial reaction temperature was lower than 140°C. In all cases, the molecular weight obtained from intrinsic viscosity measurement was greater than the expected molecular weight. This may be attributed to the branching and/or crosslinking reaction through Claisen-type condensation reactions. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Reaction-induced crystallization kinetics during the anionic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam

The kinetics of crystallization during anioiiic polymerization of ?-caprolactam was studied by the adiabatic temperature rise method, A new kinetic model for the non-isothermal crystallization was derived and the possibility of its application was Investigated. By evaluating the parameters in the model for the given adiabatic system, the crystallization behavior during the; polymerization process was analyzed. The experimental and calculated temperature rise showed a very good agreement, which indicated that the model equation was appropriate to describe the non-isothermal reaction-induced crystallization kinetics in this study. The melting temperature of the reaction mixture increased steadily due to the change of the crystal structure with conversion. The equilibrium crystallinity was higher when the crystallization started in the presence of unreacted monomer than when the crystallization occurred after polymerization was completed. At lower conversion, the reaction mixture was less viscous, a condition that made transport to the liquid-crystal interlace easier, and thus the activation energy for transport decreased. On the other hand, the increasing mobility resulted in difficulty in forming stable nuclei arid the free energy of nucleation increased.     

Modelling of polymerization kinetics and molar mass development in the nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) of styrene in supercritical carbon dioxide using the PC-SAFT equation of state

A mathematical model for polymerization kinetics and molar mass development in the nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) of vinyl monomers in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) has been developed. The method of moments is used for molar mass development. The perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) equation of state is used to estimate the number of stable phases present at equilibrium in the reaction mixture, critical number average chain length at which polymer particles are formed, and monomer concentration in each phase. Pure and binary PC-SAFT interaction parameters are estimated from liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) and liquid–vapour equilibrium (LVE) experimental data at 60 to 129°C. The effect of pressure on monomer conversion and molar mass development in the polymerization of styrene (Sty) using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO) at 120°C and 300–500 bar is studied. It was observed that increasing pressure increases polymerization rate without significantly affecting molar mass development.     

The kinetics of hydrolytic polymerization of ε-caprolactam. II. Determination of the kinetic and thermodynamic constants by least-squares curve fitting

The kinetic and thermodynamic constants of the hydrolytic polymerization of ?-caprolactam were determined by least-squares curve fitting. The calculations were carried out using observed kinetic data such as concentration of ?-caprolactam ([CL]), endgroup ([EG]), and ?-aminocaproic acid ([ACA]) and time derivatives of each concentration (rates) ?[CL]/?t, ?[EG]/?t, and ?[ACA]/?t. The sets of the converged constants are obtained for the initial water concentrations of 0.42, 0.82, and 1.18 mole/kg. An averaged set of the constants applicable for this range of the initial composition was also evaluated. The compatibility between observed and calculated concentration and rate curves was improved by the use of the newly developed sets of the constants. The mechanism of the polycondensation reaction is also discussed, based on the rate and kinetic constants obtained by this work.     

Synthesis and characteristics of the composites based on poly(caproamide) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Polycaproamide composites are synthesized by the anionic activated bulk polymerization of ?-caprolactam in the presence of 0.1–5.0 wt % of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and using low-molecularmass monofunctional (N-acetyl-?-caprolactam) and macromolecular polyfunctional (aromatic polyimides) activating agents. The effect of nanotubes on the polymerization of ?-caprolactam is studied, and this effect is shown to become more pronounced as the concentration of nanotubes is increased. The effect of nanotubes on the microstructure, phase composition, water sorption, thermophysical, mechanical, and friction characteristics of poly(caproamide) is analyzed.     

An analysis of caprolactam polymerization

A versatile model for ε-caprolactam polymerization is presented. A deterministic, mathematical basis for obtaining the most probable distribution of molecular weights in batch polymerization is developed. Continuous polycaproamide production has been modeled and shown to give othe than most probable distribution in many cases. The effect of adding monofunctional agents has been investigated. Results of some preliminary studies toward determining the optimal reactor configuration are presented.     

Modification of polyamide 6 with hycar ATBN

The preparation of block copolymers from 6-caprolactam and a liquid amine terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer Hycar ATBN 1300X21 having higher notched impact strength than ordinary poly(6-caprolactam) was studied. In the polymerization of 6-caprolactam initiated by an adduct of phosphoric acid with 6-caprolactam the influence of initiator concentration (0– 50 mol-%) and Hycar ATBN 1300X21 concentration (0–5 wt.-%) in the polymerization charge, of polymerization time (4 – 72 h) and of temperature (200–280°C) on the 6-caprolactam conversion and on the properties of the copolymers formed were followed. Notched impact strength of the block copolymers prepared under optimized conditions was as high as 13.5 kJ·m^?2.     

Polymerization of lactams, 87. Block copolymers of poly(ϵ-caprolactam) and polybutadiene prepared by anionic polymerization. Part I: Preparation and properties

The effect of the polymerization conditions on the properties of poly(?-caprolactam)-polybutadiene block copolymers prepared by polymerization casting through anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactam initiated with potassium salt of ?-caprolactam in the presence of α,ω-dihydroxy-polybutadiene and isocyanates or their blocked derivatives as functionalizing agents was investigated. The influence of the content of telechelic polybutadiene, its molecular weight, type of diisocyanate, and polymerization temperature on the fundamental mechanical properties of the prepared materials and on the polymerization rate was evaluated.     

Polymerization of lactams, 38. Copolymerization of 6-caprolactam with some of its non-homopolymerizing derivatives

It was demonstrated that non-homopolymerizing derivatives of 6-caprolactam: 7-cyclohexyl-1-aza-2-cycloheptanone (I) and 7-isopropyl-5-methyl-1-aza-2-cycloheptanone (II) were polymerizing with 6-caprolactam under conditions of the socalled hydrolytic polymerization. With its increasing content in the initial reaction mixture the copolymerization rate, the equilibrium content of the copolymer, and the reduced viscosity decreased. Lactam (I) was a more reactive comonomer in comparison with lactam (II).     

A Novel Approach to the Preparation of Nano-Blends of PPO/PS/PA6

Summary A novel approach of in situ polymerization and in situ compatibilization was adopted to prepare the nano-blend of poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO), polystyrene (PS) and polyamide 6 (PA6). Anionic ring-opening polymerization of -caprolactam was carried out in the presence of PPO and PS. And PS, the chain of which bore methylmethacrylate (MMA) groups, acted as macroactivator to initiate PA6 chain growth from the PS chain and formed a graft copolymer of PS and PA6 and pure PA6 simultaneously. Thus the nano-structured PA6 dispersed phase in the PPO matrix could be achieved.     

Biodegradable Polymers, 9. Technologically Relevant Aspects of Kinetics and Mechanism of Ring‐Opening Polymerization of L,L‐Dilactide

Poly(L ‐lactide) is manufactured by a cascade process comprising the fermentation of glucose substrate, oligomerization of L ‐lactic acid, cyclization depolymerization to L ,L ‐dilactide and ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic diester. The process development requires detailed knowledge of kinetics, thermodynamics and reaction mechanism in all process stages. This paper aims to show the influence of micro‐ and macrokinetic factors on the course of the ring‐opening polymerization and the molecular parameters of the formed polyester. Monomer conversion and molecular weight of the polyester are determined by chemically active process parameters, like kind and concentration of catalyst and initiator, respectively, reaction temperature or presence of cocatalysts as well as by the intensity of mixing of the polymerizing melt. The highest polymerization rate is observed in presence of tin octoate, but this catalyst leads to a fast degradation of the formed polymer.     

Die polymerisation der lactame XIV. Einfluß des hexamethylguanidiniumchlorides auf die aktivierte anionische polymerisation der lactame

It was proved that hexamethylguanidiniumchloride (HMGC) exhibited a pronounced accelerating effect on the activated anionic polymerization of 2-pyrrolidone (40°C) and 6-caprolactam initiated by alkali metal salts of the corresponding lactams. The accelerating effect of HMGC was not specific for a certain type of alkali metal salt of lactams as initiator, it was proved that the effect is operative for polymerization of 6-caprolactam when using sodium or cesium salt of 6-caprolactam. It was proved that HMGC does not form growing centers under reaction conditions studied. The initial polymerization rate in the homogeneous phase is a linear function of square root of HMGC concentration at constant concentrations of initiator and activator. On the basis of this finding it was possible to suggest a plausible mechanism of HMGC influence on the polymerization process.     

Kinetics and mechanism of free radical grafting of methyl acrylate onto sago starch

The graft copolymerization was carried out by methyl acrylate with sago starch in which ceric ammonium nitrate was used as an initiator. It has been found that the rates of graft polymerization and grafting efficiency were dependent upon the concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), methyl acrylate (MA), sago starch (AGU, anhydro glucose unit), mineral acid (H₂SO₄), and as well as reaction temperature and period. A rate equation of polymerization was established from the proposed reaction mechanism, and the rate of polymerization (R_p) was the first‐order dependence of the MA monomer concentration and square root of the CAN concentration. A new kinetic model of the grafting reaction has been proposed, and a normal kinetics of methyl acrylate polymerization was observed. An equation of a predicted model relating the graft fraction of poly(methyl acrylate) with the sago starch has been derived, and validity of the predicted model was verified by the experimental results. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 784–791, 2000     

The kinetics of hydrolytic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam

A method to determine the concentration of ?-aminocaproic acid (ACA) in poly-?-caprolactam by high-pressure liquid chromatography is established. The polymerizations for initial water concentrations of 0.42, 0.82, and 1.18 mol/kg and temperatures of 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, and 280°C were performed and concentration-versus-time curves were obtained for ACA, ?-caprolactam (CL), and endgroups (EG). Each curve for ACA and EG has a maximum which increases monotonically in its value and shifts from right to left in position with increasing either the temperature or the initial water concentration. The reaction rates of CL, EG, and ACA were also evaluated numerically from the concentration data. The observed kinetic data were compared with those obtained by the numerical solution of the rate equations with Reimschuessel's kinetic constants. Good agreement is found in CL and EG concentrations but discrepancies in ACA concentration and rates are considerable, particularly in the early stage of the polymerization.     

The simulation of hydrolytic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam in various reactors

The concrete simulation models dealing with the kinetic behavior of the hydrolytic polymerization of ?-caprolactam (CL) in various polymerization reactors used in the industry were described, and the method for their numerical solutions was presented. The characteristic data of the polymerization such as the concentrations of CL, end group, water, ?-aminocaproic acid, cyclic dimer, and the hot-water-soluble component, conversion, number average, and weight average molecular weights, and solution and melt viscosities can be calculated at every stage of the polymerization reaction, at every part of the reactors, and/or at the outlet of the reactors. The calculated values based upon the models were found to be quite compatible with the observed values for the reactors. The applicability of the technique was well confirmed for the quality control, process control, modification of existing plants, and development of new chemical process plants.     

The kinetics of hydrolytic polymerization of ε-caprolactam. V. Equilibrium data on cyclic oligomers

The concentrations of the cyclic oligomers (C_i; i = 3, 4, 5, and 6) in the polymeric products of ε-caprolactam were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The equilibrium data on the oligomers were obtained as a function of the polymerization temperature and initial water concentration. The concentration of each oligomer in the equilibrated polymer was found to increase with the temperature and/or initial water concentration. A set of the kinetic equations to express the oligomer formation during the polymerization was also proposed.     

球形TiCl4/MgCl2催化剂引发丙烯气相聚合动力学

采用微机在线控制的半连续烯烃聚合反应器,在加压条件下进行了球形TiCl₄/MgC_l2催化剂催化的丙烯气相聚合,测定了单体瞬时聚合速率等重要的动力学数据,考察了不同聚合条件对聚合动力学的影响,并用Flory-Huggins方程估算了聚合物非晶区中的单体浓度C_m.研究表明聚合速率与C_m成正比;丙烯聚合速率在反应一开始就迅速衰减,之后是缓慢的衰减.提出了一个n级衰减的丙烯气相聚合动力学模型,根据实验数据拟合得到了模型的各个参数,其中活性中心的衰减级数为2.5,气相聚合的表观增长活化能为77.1 kJ•mol^-1.用该模型可以较好地模拟加压条件下的丙烯气相聚合动力学行为.