Polycaprolactam synthesis

See also PBT degradation structure and properties of, 44-46 synthesis of, 106, 191 Polycaprolactam (PCA), 530, 541 Poly(e-caprolactone) (CAPA, PCL), 28, 42, 86. See also PCL degradation OH-terminated, 98-99 Polycaprolactones, 213 Poly(carbo[dimethyl]silane)s, 450, 451 Polycarbonate glycols, 207 Polycarbonate-polysulfone block copolymer, 360 Polycarbonates, 213 chemical structure of, 5 Polycarbosilanes, 450-456 Poly(chlorocarbosilanes), 454 Polycondensations, 57, 100 Poly(l,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) (PCT), 25 Polydimethyl siloxanes, 4 Poly(dioxanone) (PDO), 27 Poly (4,4 -dipheny lpheny lpho sphine oxide) (PAPO), 347 Polydispersity, 57 Polydispersity index, 444 Poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA), 41 Poly(DL-lactic acid) (PDLLA), 42 Polyester amides, 18 Polyester-based networks, 58-60 Polyester carbonates, 18 Polyester-ether block copolymers, 20 Polyester-ethers, 26... 

Like imines, some oximes are known to undergo metabolic hydrolysis by a nonenzymatic mechanism. Cyclohexanone oxime (11.69), an intermediate in the synthesis of polycaprolactam or Nylon-6, is a good example with which to begin our discussion. Following administration to male rats by various routes, cyclohexanone oxime undergoes rapid metabolism, and only trace amounts of the parent compound can be recovered in the urine [104], Although cyclohexanone (11.70) represented a small fraction of the urinary metabolites, most of the dose was recovered as glucuronides of cyclohexa-nol (11.71) and of cis- and /ran.v-cyclohexanc-1,2-diol. 

Figure 7. Effect of LiCl on the melting temperature of polycaprolactam. (0,9) = Direct synthesis, (O) = 0.5 mol % initiator and catalyst, (9) = 1 mol % initiator and catalyst, (7 ) = salt added to melted polyamide.

The polyamide made from caprolactam is technically an addition polymer by the above definition, while the product made from the amino acid would be a condensation polymer. Actually, only the caprolactam synthesis is used commercially, and the product (polycaprolactam = nylon-6) is called a condensation polymer because all polyamides are so classified. 

Ozgun H B, Kubanek V, Kralicek J and Veruovic B (1986) Synthesis of block copolymers based on polycaprolactam-polybutadiene, Eur Polym J 22 1009-1014. 

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