Multiblock copolymers of polyamide 6 and diepoxy propylene adipate obtained by solid state polymerization

Highlight•This paper shows that it is possible to synthesize multiblock copolymers based on polyamide 6 below its melting temperature where the material properties of the neat polyamide 6 are not only retained but also enhanced by incorporating degradable polyester blocks.

Polyesteramide multiblock copolymers based on polyamide 6 and diepoxy propylene adipate blocks were synthesized. For this purpose a carboxyl-terminated polyamide 6 (Mn = 2400 g/mol, Tm = 205.5 °C) and diepoxy propylene adipate (Mn = 450 g/mol) were separately synthesized and characterized. The incorporation of the oligoester into the polyamide 6 backbone was performed by solid state polymerization (SSP) well below the melting temperature of the polyamide (80–140 °C) so that the physical and thermal properties of the original polyamide 6 block were retained. Formation of the multiblock structure was confirmed by following the increase in molecular weight by SEC, reaction of the end groups by 1H NMR and by following the maintained melting temperature after the copolymerization. These segmented copolymers have molecular weights up to 10 kg/mol, thermal stability of 325 °C at 5% weight loss and a melting temperature of 205 °C.

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