Macromolecules, Vol.29, No.3, 1046-1050, 1996
Transamidation in Melt-Mixed Aliphatic and Aromatic Polyamides .2. Molecular Characterization of Pa-46 Pa-6I Blends as a Function of the Extrusion Time, Extrusion Temperature, and Blend Composition
The structure of polyamide 46/polyamide 6I copolymers obtained by reaction in the molten state is analyzed as a function of the extrusion time, the extrusion temperature, and the overall blend composition by C-13 NMR. The degree of transamidation, the degree of randomness, and the number-average block length of the copolymers are calculated using the method for a four-component polyamide system. It is shown that the transamidation processes are occurring very fast during the first period of melt-mixing but are slowing down at longer extrusion times. High extrusion temperatures affect the transamidation processes in an increasing way. From C-13 NMR experiments on PA 46/PA 6I copolymers with different compositions, differences in reactivities are observed. The change of the molecular structure of the copolyamides as a function of the processing conditions and the overall blend composition strongly affects their crystallization behavior.