In situ formation and compounding of polyamide 12 by reactive extrusion

The anionic polymerization of lauryllactam was initiated at 270°C using sodium hydride as an initiator and N,N′‐ethylene‐bisstearamide (EBS) as an activator (NaH:EBS molar ratio of 2). Polymerization occurred in less than 2 min and was successfully performed in an internal mixer and a twin‐screw extruder with corotating intermeshing screws (Werner & Pfleiderer ZSK 25). The content of residual monomer, as determined by thermogravimetric analysis, was lower than 0.5 wt %. Molecular weight, as measured by size exclusion chromatography, was governed by the lauryllactam:NaH molar ratio calculated on a M_n of 25 kg/mol at a constant NaH:EBS molar ratio of 2. Blends were prepared in situ by polymerization of lauryllactam solutions of various polymers. When poly(ethylene‐co‐butylacrylate) (Lotryl®; Atofina) was dissolved in lauryllactam, rubber‐toughened polyamide 12 blends were obtained. Mechanical properties of the injection‐molded polymers were examined by stress–strain as well as notched Charpy impact tests at different temperatures. Blend morphologies were imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 344–351, 2003