Degradation polyamides

Note 1 In most cases (e.g., in vinyl polymers, polyamides) degradation is accompanied by a decrease in molar mass. In some cases (e.g., in polymers with aromatic rings in the main chain), degradation means changes in chemical structure. It can also be accompanied by cross-linking. 

Polyamides. As already described, polyamide degradation takes place in the dry state at the C—C bonds, whereas in the wet state an activated mechanochemical hydrolysis predominates. However, only the macroradicals obtained from —C—C— bonds are able to initiate graft reactions. 

Table III. Type 2 Polyamide Degradation of the Diffraction Pattern...

Keywords Block copolymers, Interface reactive injection moulding, Polyamide degradation, Polyolefine polyamide graft copolymers, PTFE polyamide materials... 

Polyethylene, which lacks the many branches, is more stable, but still requires the addition of stabilizers. Polyisobutylene, which is a saturated rubber, is more stable than the unsaturated rubbers. Polymethyl methacrylate, in which oxidation would have to produce a primary radical, is much more stable. Polyamide degradation begins with abstraction of a hydrogen from the methylene group next to the nitrogen atom, giving a radical that can then react with oxygen.7... 

The low values of the activation energy for the thermal degradation of polycaproamide (of molecular mass 30,000) are typical of hydrolysis reactions in the liquid phase, which points to the essential role of hydrolysis during polyamide degradation. 

The low stability of polyamides to the action of NO2 is quite surprising, because the N-H bond of the amide group is rather strong. Therefore, the mechanism of polyamide degradation connected with hydrogen atom abstraction by NO2 from N-H bonds is not fully elucidated. 

The recycling of engineering thermoplastics such as polyamides, ABS, and PTEE have been discussed (50). Property degradation as a result of use, recovery, and recycling is a concern. 

In the area of moleculady designed hot-melt adhesives, the most widely used resins are the polyamides (qv), formed upon reaction of a diamine and a dimer acid. Dimer acids (qv) are obtained from the Diels-Alder reaction of unsaturated fatty acids. Linoleic acid is an example. Judicious selection of diamine and diacid leads to a wide range of adhesive properties. Typical shear characteristics are in the range of thousands of kilopascals and are dependent upon temperature. Although hot-melt adhesives normally become quite brittle below the glass-transition temperature, these materials can often attain physical properties that approach those of a stmctural adhesive. These properties severely degrade as the material becomes Hquid above the melt temperature. 

Acid Chloride Reaction. In situations where the reactants are sensitive to high temperature or the polymer degrades before the melt poiat is reached, the acid chloride route is often used to produce the polyamide (47). The basic reaction ia the presence of a base, B , is as follows ... 

Polyamides, like other macromolecules, degrade as a result of mechanical stress either in the melt phase, in solution, or in the soHd state (124). Degradation in the fluid state is usually detected via a change in viscosity or molecular weight distribution (125). However, in the soHd state it is possible to observe the free radicals formed as a result of polymer chains breaking under the appHed stress. If the polymer is protected from oxygen, then alkyl radicals can be observed (126). However, if the sample is exposed to air then the radicals react with oxygen in a manner similar to thermo- and photooxidation. These reactions lead to the formation of microcracks, embrittlement, and fracture, which can eventually result in failure of the fiber, film, or plastic article. 

The second difficulty, degradation, required the development of a two-step polyamidation process following salt formation (157). During salt formation, tetramethylenediammonium adipate salt is formed in water solution at approximately 50% concentration or at a higher concentration in a suspension. As in nylon-6,6 manufacture, this salt solution, when diluted, permits easy adjustment of the stoichiometry of the reactants by means of pH measurement. 

Polyamide or polyimide polymers are resistant to aliphatic, aromatic, and chlorinated or fluorinated hydrocarbons as well as to many acidic and basic systems but are degraded by high-temperature caustic exposures. 

Membranes used for the pressure driven separation processes, microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO), as well as those used for dialysis, are most commonly made of polymeric materials. Initially most such membranes were cellulosic in nature. These ate now being replaced by polyamide, polysulphone, polycarbonate and several other advanced polymers. These synthetic polymers have improved chemical stability and better resistance to microbial degradation. Membranes have most commonly been produced by a form of phase inversion known as immersion precipitation.11 This process has four main steps ... 

Aliphatic-aromatic copoly imides, 268 Aliphatic-aromatic polyesters, 18, 19 Aliphatic degradable polyesters, 41 Aliphatic diacids, polyamide synthesis from, 183-184... 

Aliphatic hyperbranched polyesters, 56 Aliphatic isocyanate adducts, 202 Aliphatic isocyanates, 210, 225 Aliphatic polyamides, 138 Aliphatic polyesteramides, 56 Aliphatic polyesters, 18, 20, 29, 32, 87 degradable, 85 hyperbranched, 114-116 melting points of, 33, 36 structure and properties of, 40-44 syntheses of, 95-101 thermal degradation of, 38 unsubstituted and methyl-substituted, 36-38... 

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