Aliphatic polyamides degradation mechanisms

In contrast to PVA, when nylon 6,6 is subjected to temperatures above 300°C in an inert atmosphere it completely decomposes. The wide range of degradation products, which includes several simple hydrocarbons, cyclopentanone, water, CO, CO2 and NH3 suggests that the degradation mechanism must be highly complex. Further research has led to a generally accepted degradation mechanism for aliphatic polyamides ... 

The comparison of the results obtained in this study for the LCP degradation imder processing temperatures with the peculiarities of some thermally stable polyheteroaiylenes degradation [14] brings to light some common features carbonization of the structure, H2 evolution, improvement in thermo-oxidative stability with transition metal compoimds. That is why we took into accoimt the stabilization of polysulfones, aiyl-aliphatic polyimides, polyamides etc. The approach to such stabilization is based on the following proposals on the mechanisms of the above said polymer degradation ... 

Polymers with hydrolysable linkages in the backbone are very useful in a range of degradable materials. For disposable table-wares as cups or expendable packages many of them are still too expensive and do not exhibit the desirable combination of mechanical and chemical properties. Well-known synthetic hydrolysable polymers are polyesters [1], polycarbonates [2], polyanhydrides [2], polyamides [2] and poly(amino acids) [2]. Hydrolysable biopolymers may be cheaper than synthetically produced polymers (e.g. aliphatic polyesters such as polylactides) and many scientists today are looking for new possibilities using such traditional natural polymers as polysaccharides, proteins and lipids. Special interest is focused on poly(P-hydroxybutyrate) and its copolymers [3,4] (see Chapters 9 and 10). Well-known natural products such as Pullulan (a bacterial polysaccharide produced by Aerobasidium pullulans), cellulose acetate and starch, as well as synthetic polyvinyl alcohol are important degradable materials. 

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