| Abstract: | The interchange or so-called transamidation process in polyamide-4.6 was investigated by means of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). For this purpose, a 50/50 blend of partially deuterated and fully hydrogenous polyamide-4.6 was processed at 300°C for variable times (1–20 min). The obtained results are in line with the theory as described by Benoit to quantify the transesterfication process in homopolyesters. An exponential relaxation time τ of approximately 1500 s was obtained. On the basis of this relaxation time τ, it can be calculated that approximately four interchange reactions per chain occur in polyamide-4.6 during a typical processing time of 3 min at 300°C. The data interpretation is not complicated by the presence of some crystallinity in polyamide-4.6. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
