%0 Journal Article
%T Polyamide from lactams by reactive rotational molding via anionic ring-opening polymerization: Optimization of processing parameters
%A N. Barhoumi
%A A. Maazouz
%A M. Jaziri
%A R. Abdelhedi
%J eXPRESS Polymer Letters
%D 2013
%I Budapest University of Technology
%R 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2013.7
%X A reactive rotational molding (RRM) process was developed to obtain a PA6 by activated anionic ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactam (APA6). Sodium caprolactamate (C10) and caprolactam magnesium bromide (C1) were employed as catalysts, and difunctional hexamethylene-1,6-dicarbamoylcaprolactam (C20) was used as an activator. The kinetics of the anionic polymerization of !-caprolactam into polyamide 6 was monitored through dynamic rheology and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The effect of the processing parameters, such as the polymerization temperature, different catalyst/activator combinations and concentrations, on the kinetics of polymerization is discussed. A temperature of 150ˇăC was demonstrated to be the most appropriate. It was also found that crystallization may occur during PA6 polymerization and that the combination C1/C20 was well suited as it permitted a suitable induction time. Isoviscosity curves were drawn in order to determine the available processing window for RRM. The properties of the obtained APA6 were compared with those of a conventionally rotomolded PA6. Results pointed at lower cycle times and increased tensile properties at weak deformation.
%K Processing technologies
%K Anionic polymerization
%K caprolactam
%K viscosity
%K reactive rotational molding
%U http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0003806&mi=cd