Chemical structure of polycaproamide obtained by anionic polymerization of caprolactam in solvent

Chemical structure of polycaproamide (nylon-6), obtained by low temperature anionic polymerization of caprolactam in the presence of the sodium salt of caprolactam and carbon dioxide in solvent has been investigated. The polymer formed in a heterogeneous system, depending upon its final treatment, is terminated with amino and cyclic lactam groups or, after hydrolysis, with amino and carboxyl group. i.r. Spectra and acid-base titrations have shown the presence of amino and carboxyl groups in macromolecules. The contents of basic and acidic groups in the final product and its fractions were determined by potentiometric titrations. Number-average molecular weights of samples based on the results of titrations were compared with the results of osmotic measurements. Equal numbers of basic and acid groups in the polymer suggests that macromolecules are terminated at one end by an amino group and at the other by a carboxyl group. The results indicate a linear and regular structure for the polycaproamide.