| Abstract: | The polycondensation reaction of dimethyl tartrate (DMT) with hexamethylenediamine (HMD) was carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 60°C in the presence of various polymer matrices, which were expected to interact with DMT or the resulting polyamide which had pendant hydroxyl groups due to hydrogen bonding. It was found that the rate of polycondensation was enhanced by polymer matrices such as poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), Pullulan (polysaccharide) (PF), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The rate enhancement became more pronounced with increasing molecular weight of the polymer matrix. When polycondensation in the presence of PVA was carried out in DMSO, a polymer complex was produced. The formation of the polymer complex between the resulting polyamide and PVA during polycondensation was dependent on the concentration of monomers and also on PVA; a gelation of the solution was observed at a concentration of PVA. |
