Study On Preparation, Characterization And Properties Of Polyzaomethine-Nylon6 Copolymers

Polyazomethine (PAM) is a kind of polymer containing the conjugated structure of -C=N- and phenyl group, so it has high melting point and modulus. It may be an effective way to improve the mechanical properties of Nylon6 as it has some comparability with Nylon6.In this paper, two kinds of PAM macromolecular activators were prepared by using two ways to terminate polyazomethine (PAM). Then they were used with Grignard Reagent to initiate the ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolatam to prepare ester-terminated PAM-Nylon6 copolymers and isocyanate-terminated PAM-Nylon6 copolymers.Ester-terminated PAM macromolecular activators were prepared by the reaction of Terephthalaedhyle(TPA) and Phenyl 4-aminobenzoate (PAB) with 1,6-Hexanediamine (HAD) (PAM1 ),or Terephthalaedhyle(TPA) and Phenyl 4-aminobenzoate (PAB) with 4,4-Diaminediphenyl ether (DDE) (PAM2). Then it was used with Grignard Reagent to initiate the ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactam. The intrinsic viscositys of the two kinds of copolymers decreased as the PAM content increased.The results of DSC data showed that the melting points and degrees of crystallinity decreased as the PAM content increased. Meanwhile, WAXD curves were observed the formation of γ crystal structure for the Nylon6 componet.PAM1 terminated with only amine groups were prepared and reacted with TDI to obtain macromolecular activators. Then macromolecular activators and Grignard Reagent were used to initiate the ring-opening polymerization of E-caprolatam monomer. Intrinsic viscositys of the copolymers decreased as the PAM1 content increased. The results of DSC data of the copolymers showed that the melting points and degrees of crystallinity decreased as the PAM1 content increased. WAXD curves were observed the formation of γ crystal structure for the Nylon6 componet also.Mechanical properties of ester-terminated PAM1-Nylon6 copolymers were tested. When the molar ratio of aldehyde to amine was 6/5, Charpy impact strength of copolymer was 13.92kJ/m~2, and tensile strength was 92.29MPa as PAM1 content was 12wt%. In this condition, the impact strength was increased by 100%, while the tensile strength by 20% compared with those of pure Nylon6. Mechanical properties of ester-terminated PAM2-Nylon6 were also measured. When the molar ratio of aldehyde to amine was 5/4, Charpy impact strength of copolymer was 10.97kJ/m~2, and the tensile strength was 87.98MPa as the PAM2 content was 7wt%. Its impact strength was increased by 60%, while the tensile strength by 10% compared with those of pure Nylon6.Mechanical properties of isocyanated-terminated PAM1-Nylon6 copolymers were tested. When the molar ratio of amine to aldehyde was 4/3, Charpy impact strength of copolymer was 26.2kJ/m2, and tensile strength was 85MPa with addition of PAMl content 9wt%. The impact strength of this material was increased by 300%, while tensile strength by 20% compared with those of pure Nylon6. When the molar ratio of amine to aldehyde was 5/4, Charpy impact strength of copolymer was 18.91kJ/m2, and the tensile strength was 84.57MPa as PAMl content was 7wt%. Impact strength was increased by 200%, while the tensile strength by 20% compared with those of pure Nylon6.The fractured surfaces of Charpy impact samples were obeserved by SEM for all the copolymers prepared. The toughening characteristics were conformed to the results of the mechanical properties of copolymers.