Anionic block copolymerization of ϵ-caprolactam

?-Caprolactam anionic homopolymerization was studied in the presence of different model activators. On the basis of the results ester- and isocyanate-terminated polymers were used as macroactivators and nylon-6–polyvinyl or polydiene block copolymers were synthesized in high yields. The physical properties and morphology of a nylon–polybutadiene triblock copolymer were characterized.     

Anionic and ionic coordinative polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone

The polymerization of ?‐caprolactone initiated by two catalyst systems was studied: (1) carbazole‐potassium in the presence of 18‐crown‐6 ether and (2) NdCl₃/TBP/TIBA (neodymiumtrichloride/tri‐n‐butyl‐phosphate/triisobutylaluminium) at the molar ratio 1/3/1. For both initiator systems conversion/time plots were determined and the polymers were characterized by IR, GPC and by ¹H‐ and ¹³C?NMR spectroscopy. Polyesters with the highest molecular weight (M _n?44 000 g/mol) were obtained for the polymerizations initiated by the carbazole‐potassium/18‐crown‐6 ether system. The features of the polymerization initiated by the carbazole‐potassium/18‐crown‐6 ether system are discussed on the basis of a simple scheme. The nature of this polymerization is non‐living. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrogen bonded complexes of ϵ-caprolactam

The ultraviolet absorption band of a complex between 9-ethyladenine and ∈-caprolactam has been observed at a wavelength longer than that of the absorption band for the 9-ethyladenine monomer. Absorbance values (at 277.5 mμ) of solutions that contained 9-ethyladenine and different concentrations of ∈-caprolactam in cyclohexane were determined at different temperatures. Linear plots were utilized to determine the apparent association constant (K′ ) of the 9-ethyladenine-caprolactam complex over the range of 25° to 60°. The K′ values for the complex of 4-aminopyrimidine and ∈-caprolactam were determined for the same temperature range from the absorbance of cyclohexane solutions at 282.5 mμ. The K' values of the two complexes are the same at 25°, but ∈-caprolactam is more strongly bonded to 9-ethyladenine than to 4-aminopyrimidine at elevated temperatures. The synthesis of 4-amino-1-ethylbenzimidazole hydro-chloride was performed. An attempt to detect a complex between ∈-caprolactam and 4-amino-1-ethylbenzimidazole in a cyclohexane solution was not successful.     

Block polymers from isocyanate-terminated intermediates. II. Preparation of butadiene–ϵ-caprolactam and styrene–ϵ-caprolactam block polymers

Polystyrene–nylon 6 and polybutadiene–nylon 6 block copolymers have been prepared from isocyanate-terminated prepolymers. From extraction and fractionation data the products obtained were found to be mixtures of both homopolymers and pure block copolymer. The polybutadiene–nylon 6 copolymers are extremely pliable at ambient temperatures even at high ?-caprolactam contents (70–80 wt-%). This is true even though these copolymers show a crystalline melting point at 213°C similar to poly-?-caprolactam. Presumably this unusual behavior occurs because of the nature of the synthesis which renders the butadiene portion of these copolymers the continuous phase. Plasticity measurements indicate that pliability is dependent on the molecular weight of the block poly-?-caprolactam.     

Synthesis of nylon 6–clay hybrid by montmorillonite intercalated with ϵ-caprolactam

It was found that montmorillonite was intercalated with ?-caprolactam. X-ray diffraction revealed that the chain axes of the ?-caprolactam were parallel to the montmorillonite plates. The intercalated montmorillonite was swollen by molten ?-caprolactam at 200°C. ?-Caprolactam and 6-aminocaproic acid (accelerator) were polymerized with the intercalated montmorillonite at 260°C for 6 h, yielding a nylon 6-clay hybrid. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron micrography revealed that the silicate layers of the hybrid were uniformly dispersed in the nylon 6 matrix. Mechanical properties of the hybrid were improved. The strength and the modulus of the hybrid increased compared with the previously reported nylon 6 clay-hybrid (NCH) synthesized by montmorillonite intercalated with 12-aminolauric acid. The heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the hybrid was 164°C, which was 12°C higher than that of NCH. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of lactams: 97. Anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam activated by esters

The anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam initiated with 0.5 mol % ethyl magnesium bromide in the presence of cycloaliphatic esters (lactones), such as γ-butyrolactone, δ-valerolactone and ε-caprolactone, has been studied in the temperature range 150-190 °C and concentration up to 5 mol %. To explain reaction mechanism, the polymerizations carried out in the presence n-butyl acetate and dimethyl terephthalate were also evaluated. The apparent rate constants and apparent activation energies were determined for the initial stage of polymerization. The non-integer orders of the polyreaction with respect to the concentration of lactone introduced indicated complex polymerization mechanism.     

Cyclic oligomers content in anionic poly (ϵ-caprolactam)

The influence of initiator and activator concentrations on the anionic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam and, in particular, on the methanol – extractable fraction of the final polymer has been widely studied. Due to the increasing interest of this polymerization in the field of reaction injection molding (RIM) technology, a thorough investigation has been also carried out to find the best experimental conditions for this reaction in the mold. The effect of postpolymerization annealing on the overall amount of low-molecular mass substances, among which cyclic oligomers, has been evaluated. Thermal properties as well as crystallinity of the resultant materials have been examined. A comparison with literature data is given; the suggested correlation between the amount of the oligomeric fraction and the molecular arrangement of the polymer in the solid state is discussed.     

Kinetic studies of structure formation during anionic adiabatic polymerization of ε-caprolactam

The kinetics of crystallization and structure formation of polycaproamide (PCA) during anionic adiabatic polymerization of ε-caprolactam was studied. The adiabatic crystallization was shown to comprise three successive stages. In the first stage PCA forms dendritelike structures, the space between which is filled with the monomer. In the second stage rather rapid crystallization proceeds to give large loose spherulites. The dendritic structures serve as nuclei for development of spherulites. In the third stage slow secondary crystallization occurs. It is accomplished by crystallization of the residual amorphous substance located both in the dendritic nucleus and throughout the volume of the spherulites. This process is followed by the partial disappearance of the dendritic nuclei and by thickening of lamellae, which results in a substantial densification of initial structures and appearance of fine spherulites. As a result, a fine spherulitic structure with 50% crystallinity is formed.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactam and ϵ‐caprolactone via microwave irradiation

A novel process for synthesizing nylon‐6 and poly(?‐caprolactone) by microwave irradiation of the respective monomers, ?‐caprolactam and ?‐caprolactone, is described. The ring opening of ?‐caprolactam to produce nylon‐6 was performed in a microwave oven by the forward power being controlled to about 90–135 W in the presence of an ω‐aminocaproic acid catalyst (10 mol %) and for periods of 1–3 h at temperatures varying from 250 to 280 °C. The ring opening of ?‐caprolactone to produce poly(?‐caprolactone) was performed in a microwave oven by the forward power being controlled to about 70–100 W for a period of 2 h in the presence of stannous octoate with and without 1,4‐butanediol over a temperature range of 150–200 °C. The yields, conditions of the reactions, and properties of the products generated relative to the thermal processes are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2264–2275, 2002     

Cationic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone in the presence of diols via activated monomer mechanism

The kinetics of noncatalytic and catalytic interaction of ϵ-caprolactone (ϵ-CL) with a variety of diols in the presence of onium-type catalysts as well as the resulting products structure were investigated. The phenomenon of the direction change of the lactone ring opening during the interaction with hydroxyl-containing compounds of different functionality was discovered. The features of the reactions investigated were discussed and their kinetic parameters were determined.     

On the behavior of organophosphorus lactam derivatives during anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam

This article deals with the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam in the presence of N-substituted phosphorus-containing derivatives of ε-caprolactam: diethyl-(N-caprolactam)-phosphonite (PL₁); diethyl-(N-caprolactam)-phosphonate (PL₂), and 2,5-dichlorophenyl-bis-(N-caprolactam)-phosphinate (PL₃). It has been found out that PL₁ and PL₃ had an accelerating effect on the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam. The polymerization runs at high velocity and high degree of conversion. PL₂ does not accelerate the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam, but when the polymerization is activated by a strong activator of acyl lactam type, and the PL₂ concentration is commensurate with that of the activator, the process runs at a slightly lower rate and at a relatively high degree of conversion. The kinetics of the anionic polymerization in the presence of the three compounds was investigated. Equations describing the effect of the reagents on the polymerization rate were suggested. The activating energy of the polymerization was found out. The different actions of PL₁, PL₂, and PL₃ during the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam were explained by their structural differences.     

Microspheres by dispersion polymerization of lactides and ϵ-caprolactone

Polyester microspheres were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of lactides (racemate or optically active L,L-isomer) and ϵ-caprolactone. Polymerizations were carried out in the 1,4-dioxane-heptane mixed solvents in the presence of poly(dodecyl acrylate)-g-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (poly(DA-CL)) used as surface-active agent. Polymerizations were initiated with tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (lactides), diethylaluminum ethoxide or sodium trimethylsilanolate (ϵ-caprolactone). In the studies of the polymerization of lactides, relations were determined between diameters, the distribution of diameters of synthesized microspheres, and the structure of poly(DA-CL). It was found that it is possible, depending on thermal treatment of microspheres after synthesis, to obtain polylactide microspheres differing in the degree of crystallinity. Kinetics of the dispersion pseudoanionic and anionic polymerizations of ϵ-caprolactone were also investigated and the results of these studies were compared with the data for the corresponding polymerizations of ϵ-caprolactone in solution.     

Controlled polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone -from macromolecules to microspheres

Pseudoanionic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone (CL), initiated with dialkylaluminum alkoxides, was used for the tailored synthesis of poly(CL) with M̄_n ≤ 100 000 and M̄_w /M̄_n < 1. 20. Macromolecules with functional groups at one or at both ends were obtained in this way. Controlled polymerization of CL allowed to prepare poly(dodecyl acrylate)-g-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (poly(DAC)-g-poly(CL)) with well defined poly(CL) grafts. These copolymers were used as the surface active agents for the direct synthesis of poly(CL) microspheres. The number average diameter (D̄_n ) of poly(CL) microspheres varied from 0.628 μm to 0.94 μm and the diameter polydispersity (D̄_v /D̄_n ) varied from 1.038 to 1.26, depending on the composition of poly(DAC)-g-poly(CL). Human serum albumin (HSA) and human gamma globulins (_γ G) were attached to the poly(CL) microspheres. The maximal surface concentrations of HSA and _γ G adsorbed onto the microspheres were equal to 9·10⁻⁴ g/m² and 2.0·10⁻³ g/m² respectively.     

Anionic polymerization of lactones initiated by alkali graphitides. I. Polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone initiated by KC24

The influence of the reaction conditions (time, temperature, concentrations of the monomer, and the initiator) on the amount and composition of the oligomers and high molecular products formed during the heterogeneous anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactone was investigated. The polymerization was initiated by KC₂₄ in xylene or tetrahydrofuran. Conditions were found under which intra- and intermolecular transesterification was strongly suppressed, thus providing the opportunity for the formation of polyesters with viscometric molecular masses of more than 300,000 and good yields (80% and higher). The total quantity of products with a viscometric molecular mass below 2500 did not exceed 15%; that of the cyclic dimer was not in excess of 5%. Peculiar features of the KC₂₄ initiated polymerization are the insignificant rise in the number of oligomers and the formation of high polymers even in strongly diluted solutions of ?-caprolactone (0.2 mol/L and lower). The quantity and molecular mass of the polymers obtained decreased as the temperature increased. It was also established that the polymerization of the cyclic dimer of ?-caprolactone is not initiated by KC₂₄.     

Properties of nylon 6 anionically obtained with NaAl(Lac)4 catalyst and polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam with NaAl(Lac)3(OEt) catalyst

The m-cresol-insoluble polymer of ?-caprolactam obtained with NaAl(Lac)₄ catalyst is converted to a soluble polymer on treatment with dilute (0.1 wt-%) aqueous hydrochloric acid without any accompanying degradation of polymer chain. Aluminum contained in the polymer was not removed completely by extensive extraction with methanol, regardless of the solubilities of the polymers. This fact suggests the existence of two forms of aluminum in the polymer: one contributes to insolubility of the polymer and the other does not. The polymerization behavior in the case of NaAl(Lac)₃(OEt) was somewhat different from that of NaAl(Lac)₄ and of NaAl(Lac)₃(NHBu). These results are considered to reflect a difference in the stability of the Al-O, Al-(Lac), and Al-N bonds in the catalyst.     

Al(Cap)3 as initiator in the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam at high temperature

Mechanism for polymerization of ε-caprolactam in the presence of both sodium and aluminum caprolactamate was investigated at 171°C. The role of Al(Cap)₃ as an initiator was revealed. The apparent rate constant of propagation reaction decreased with the increase in the concentration of Al(Cap)₃, as the two different metal salts interact even at 171°C. The activation energy of the overall polymerization reaction with this catalyst system was estimated to be 41.18 kcal/mole.     

Microwave‐assisted ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone

Ring‐opening polymerization of ?‐caprolactone was carried out smoothly and effectively with constant microwave powers of 170, 340, 510, and 680 W, respectively, with a microwave oven at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The temperature of the polymerization ranged from 80 to 210 °C. Poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) with a weight‐average molar mass (M_w) of 124,000 g/mol and yield of 90% was obtained at 680 W for 30 min using 0.1% (mol/mol) stannous octanoate as a catalyst. When the polymerization was catalyzed by 1% (w/w) zinc powder, the M_w of PCL was 92,300 g/mol after the reaction mixture was irradiated at 680 W for 270 min. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1749–1755, 2002     

Microwave‐improved polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone initiated by carboxylic acids

The ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL), initiated by carboxylic acids such as benzoic acid and chlorinated acetic acids under microwave irradiation, was investigated; with this method, no metal catalyst was necessary. The product was characterized as poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The polymerization was significantly improved under microwave irradiation. The weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) of PCL reached 44,800 g/mol, with a polydispersity index [weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (M_w/M_n)] of 1.6, when a mixture of ε‐CL and benzoic acid (25/1 molar ratio) was irradiated at 680 W for 240 min, whereas PCL with M_w = 12,100 and M_w/M_n = 4.2 was obtained from the same mixture by a conventional heating method at 210 °C for 240 min. A degradation of the resultant PCL was observed during microwave polymerization with chlorinated acetic acids as initiators, and this induced a decrease in M_w of PCL. However, the degradation was hindered by benzoic acid at low concentrations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 13–21, 2003     

Ions and ion pairs in anionic activated polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam

The effect of concentration of the catalytic system on the initial rate of the anionic activated polymerization of ?-caprolactam (AAPC) has been studied. It is shown that the data can be rationalized only by considering (along with side reactions such as Claisen condensation) the fact that chain growth involves both free anions and ion pairs. The possibility of formation of various associates is discussed. Quantum-chemical calculations suggest that, in the alkali metal lactamate molecule, negative charge is delocalized among the O and N heteroatoms. A possible structure for the ion pair of catalyst is suggested. The states of the Li, Na and K lactamate molecules under the conditions for AAPC are determined from conductivity measurements. Kinetic studies of AAPC with various counter ions are also described. For the Li salt, the kinetic data conflict with the results of conductometric measurements. Suppression of the dissociation of sodium caprolactamate by addition of a neutral electrolyte, sodium tetraphenylborate, results in a drastic decrease in the initial rate of polymerization, suggesting that AAPC proceeds through both free anions and ion pairs. The possibility of polymerization through the ion-coordinative mechanism is considered.     

Block copolymers of ϵ-caprolactam and oxirane prepared by the activated anionic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam

Block copolymers polycaprolactam-polyoxyethylene-polycaprolactam were prepared by anionic polymerization of caprolactam activated with α,ω-dicarbonylcaprolactam-polyoxyethylenes and characterized by the content of the polyether component, crystallinity of the polyamide component and sorption of water.