Amine/anhydride reaction versus amide/anhydride reaction in polyamide/anhydride carriers

Polyamide 6 (PA6) and poly(metaxylene adipamide) (PAmXD6) were blended in a batch mixer with anhydrides such as phthalic anhydride, n-octadecyl succinic anhydride, and anhydride-grafted ethylene propylene rubber. The melt viscosity, the solution viscosity, and chain end concentration were studied during the mixing. PA was first mixed 5 min to get an homogeneous melt prior to the anhydride addition. The introduction of the anhydride to the molten polyamide resulted in large decreases of melt and solution viscosities and of amine chain end concentrations. The anhydride units react with amine chain ends to form imide groups. The resulting low amine chain end concentration causes hydrolysis reaction to maintain the condensation equilibrium. As a consequence an increased carboxylic chain end concentration is observed. The imide concentration was studied by IR. It was shown that when most of the amine chain ends are consumed, the remaining anhydride reacts with amino groups formed by polyamide hydrolysis. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.