On the structure of poly-ε-caprolactams, obtained with bifunctional N-carbamyl derivatives of lactams

The present study deals with the structures of poly (ε-caprolactams), (PA-6), obtained by anionic ‘pseudoliving’ polymerization in bulk in the presence of bifunctional N-carbamyl lactams as activators (AC): (1) Hexamethylen di-carbamyl di-caprolactam (C-X); (2) 3,3,5 trimethyl-5 methyl cyclohexyl di-carbamyl di-caprolactam (C-I). The physical behavior of PA-6 samples synthesized at various polymerization conditions were studied by DSC, IR, WAXD and thermomechanical analyses (MA). Morphological changes, degree of crystallinity and formation of α and γ structures depending on the type of activator and polymerization conditions were followed. Investigations concerning this topic are not published in the literature.