| Abstract: | A homologous series of aliphatic polyoxamides, nylon 122, 102, 82, and 62, were prepared by the bulk polycondensation of dialkyl oxalates with diamines. Infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and gas chromatography were used to study the structure and thermal stability of these polyoxamides. From the fiber pattern of nylon 122, a structural repeat distance of 19.5 Å was measured. This was in close agreement with the expected value for an extended planar, zigzag chain conformation. With the exception of the expected decrease in the structural repeat distance along the chain axis resulting from the different number of methylene groups, nylons 122, 102, and 82 were isostructural. Nylon 62 appeared to pack in a similar manner to the other materials studied. However, there were differences in the diffraction pattern of this polymer; these may be indicative of a different chain conformation or of strain in the crystalline regions of the polymer. The infrared spectra indicate the presence of strong hydrogen bonding in all the polymers. Thermal analysis and pyrolysis data revealed catastrophic polymer degradation between 400 and 500°C in nitrogen, with appreciable homolytic cleavage of the oxamide group. |
