Preparation, characterization and crystalline transitions of odd–even polyamides 11,12 and 11,10

The novel odd–even polyamides 11,12 (P11, 12) and 11,10 (P11, 10) were synthesized via step-heating melting-polycondensation of 1,11-diaminoundecane with dodecanedioic acid and decanedioic acid, respectively. Their chemical structures were confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, Raman, NMR). The thermal properties of the polyamides under consideration were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The crystalline transitions of the prepared polyamides were studied by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The variable temperature WXRD results indicated that P11,10 undergoes the Brill transition during the heating process before melt while P11,12 does not. From the real time FTIR spectra of P11,10, it was found that the intensity of hydrogen bond becomes weak, and the twisting of the C–CO and C–N bonds becomes enhanced. The vibration of the methylene units strengthens and the trans-zigzag conformation decreases. The ordered stacking of the methylene segments becomes gradually disordered by insertion of the gauche conformation during the crystalline transition process.