Abstract
To obtain high molecular weight nylon 6, the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam was investigated in terms of water content in monomer and concentration of catalyst (Grignard reagent; ethyl magnesium bromide) and chain initiator (monofunctional; N-acetyl-ε-caprolactam or bifunctional; N,N′-adipoyl-bis-ε-caprolactam). The weight average molecular weight, Mw=7.0×105 (the intrinsic viscosity; [η]=11.2) was obtained using the monofunctional chain initiator, and Mw=9.5×105 ([η]=14.1) was found using the bifunctional chain initiator under the following conditions: water content, 0.013 mol%; concentration of catalyst, 0.1 mol%; concentration of chain initiator, 0.03 mol% (monofunctional), 0.015 mol% (bifunctional); polymerization temperature, 150°C. In the present study, the molecular weight of the polymer is governed by quantities of active molecular chains. Since water mainly terminates the propagation of molecular chains, minimizing water content in ε-caprolactam is indispensable to maximizing the molecular weight of the polymer.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
J. Sebenda, “Comprehensive Chemical Kinetics,” Vol. 15, C. H. Bamfordand and C. F. H. Tipper, Ed., Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1976, p 279.
H. Sekiguchi, “Ring-Opening Polymerization,” Vol. 2, K. J. Ivin and T. Saegusa, Ed., Elsevier, London, 1984, p 832.
J. Sebenda, “Comprehensive Polymer Science,” Vol. 3, C. F. H. Tipper and C. H. Bamford, Ed., Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1988.
R. Puffr, “Lactam-Based Polyamides,” Vol. 1, R. Puffr and V. Kubánek, Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1991.
J. Karger-Kocsis and L. Kiss, J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Symp., 69, 67 (1981).
R. Puffr and N. Vladimirov, Makromol. Chem., 194, 1765 (1993).
J. Sebenda, J. Macromol. Sci. Chem., A6, 1145 (1972).
G. Champetier and H. Sekiguchi, J. Polym. Sci., 48, 309 (1960).
H. Sekiguchi and B. Coutin, J. Polym. Sci., Chem. Ed., 11, 1601 (1973).
T. M. Frunze, V. A. Kotel’nikov, T. V. Volkova, V. V. Kurashev, S. P. Davtyan, and V. V. Korshak, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 255, 612 (1980).
T. M. Frunze, V. A. Kotel’nikov, T. V. Volkova, V. V. Kurashev, S. P. Davtyan, and I. V. Stankevich, Acta Polym., 32, 31 (1981).
T. M. Frunze, V. A. Kotel’nikov, T. V. Volkova, and V. V. Kurashev, Eur. Polym. J., 17, 1079 (1981).
N. Mougin, C. A. Veith, R. E. Cohen, and Y. Gnanou, Macromolecules, 25, 2004 (1992).
H. Tani and T. Konomi, J. Polym. Sci., A-1, 6, 2295 (1968).
R. Z. Greenley, J. C. Stauffer, and J. E. Kurz, Macromolecules, 2, 561 (1969).
E. Sittler and J. Sebenda, Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun., 33, 270 (1968).
E. Sittler and J. Sebenda, Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun., 33, 3182 (1968).
J. Sebenda, J. Polym. Sci., C, 23, 169 (1968).
J. Sebenda and V. Kouril, Eur. Polym. J., 8, 437 (1972).
J. Sebenda, A. Stiborová, L. Lochman, and Z. Bukac, Org. Prepr. Proced. Int., 12, 289 (1980).
[Chem. Abstr., 94, 16165 (1981)].
J. Stehlicek and J. Sebenda, Eur. Polym. J., 22, 769 (1986).
J. Stehlicek, J. Labsky, and J. Sebenda, Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun., 32, 545 (1987).
T. M. Frunze, S. P. Davtyan, V. A. Kotel’nikov, T. V. Volkova, and V. V. Kurashev, Vysokomol. Soedin., Ser. B, 23, 388 (1981).
V. G. Frolov, Vysokomol. Soedin., Ser. B, 25, 134 (1983).
S. Barzakay, M. Levy, and D. Vofsi, J. Polym. Sci., A-1, 5, 965 (1967).
J. Stehlicek and R. Puffr, Macromol. Chem., 193, 10, 2539 (1992).
J. Sebenda, Preprints of Scientific Papers I, IUPAC International Symposium on Macromolecular Chemistry, Tokyo-Kyoto, 1966, p 251.
S. Chrzczonowlcz, J. Kowalski, and M. Wlodarczyk, Bull. Acad. Polon. Sci., Sér. Sci. Chim., 14, 751 (1966).
M. Turuta, “Polyamide-jusi,” Nikkan-kõgyõ-shinbun, Tokyo, 1961.
K. Ueda, K. Hattori, M. Nakai, and K. Tai, to be published.
S. Barzakay, M. Levy, and D. Vofsi, J. Polym. Sci., B, 3, 601 (1965).
H. Yumoto, J. Chem. Phys., 29, 1234 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ueda, K., Yamada, K., Nakai, M. et al. Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Nylon 6 by Anionic Polymerization of ε-Caprolactam. Polym J 28, 446–451 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.28.446
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.28.446
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Thermoplastic resin transfer molding of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 6 composite with the improved processability using zeolite particle
Korea-Australia Rheology Journal (2023)
-
Manufacture and Performance of Textile-ramie Fiber Reinforced Anionic Polyamide 6 Composites
Fibers and Polymers (2019)
-
Anionic polymerisation of caprolactam at the small-scale via DSC investigations
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (2014)
-
Structure and characteristics of copolyamides based on ?-caprolactam and diisocyanates
Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry (2004)