Degradation of nylon-6 in ethylene glycol

Glycolysis of nylon-6 in boiling ethylene glycol was studied. Oligoamides with amino- and hydroxylend-groups were obtained. The following catalysts were examined: zinc acetate, sodium glycolate and poly(phosphoric acid). The reaction rate constants found for first order reaction proved that the amino-groups formed during the degradation take part in acceleration or slowing of the reaction velocity. The reaction rate constants did not change in the polymerization degree range of $\text{P}\text{?}\text{= 150?20}$. Beginning from the polymerization degree $\text{P}\text{?}\text{= 20}$ in case of zinc acetate, sodium glycolate and without the catalyst the reaction rate constants increased, the reverse effect was observed when poly(phosphoric acid) was used.