Copolyesteramides—III. Anionic copolymers of ε-caprolactam with ε-caprolactone. Crystalline character and mechanical properties

The crystalline character of anionic copolymers of ε-caprolactam with ε-caprolactone and of some alternatingly-sequenced analogues has been studied and investigations made of the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the anionic copolymers. The anionic copolymers are crystalline over the whole range of compositions. Depending on the proportions of NH(CH₂)₅CO and O(CH₂)₅CO units and the thermal history of the copolymers, the crystalline phases present are either wholly of polyamide type or composed of co-existing and mutually incompatible polyamide and polyester entities. However, the constituents appear to be miscible in the amorphous phase. The mechanical properties of the copolymers (like their crystalline melting temperatures) change discontinuously with composition, showing minima in the values of initial modulus, yield stress and breaking stress at ca 25–40% amide-group content where dual crystallinity exists. In addition to their variation with composition, the properties are also affected by changes in the procedure of anionic copolymerisation.