Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a melt-processable polylactam by contacting caprolactam monomer with an anionic polymerization catalyst, polymerizing said monomer and contacting the resulting polylactam with a protic compound. The anionic polymerization catalyst is chosen from the group consisting of alkali-earth-metal-lactamates and alkali-earth-metal-lactamate forming compounds and the protic compound has a pKa larger than 14. The resulting polylactam has a good melt-stability and very low cyclic dimer content.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a melt-processable polylactam by contacting caprolactam monomer with an anionic polymerization catalyst chosen from the group consisting of magnesium-lactamates and magnesium-lactamate forming compounds and acyllactam, polymerizing said monomer and contacting the resulting polylactam with a protic compound. The resulting polylactam has a good meltstability and a low degree of branching.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a melt-processable polylactam by contacting caprolactam monomer with an anionic polymerization catalyst, polymerizing said monomer and contacting the resulting polylactam with a protic compound. The anionic polymerization catalyst is chosen from the group consisting of alkali-earth-metal-lactamates and alkali-earth-metal-lactamate forming compounds and the protic compound has a pKa larger than 14. The resulting polylactam has a good melt-stability and very low cyclic dimer content.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polyamide comprising at least a step in which a composition that comprises at least (a) a primary aminocarbonamide and (b) an aminocarboxylic acid and/or a lactam is polymerised, said composition comprising at least (a) 10-90 wt. % primary aminocarbonamide; (b) 10-90 wt. % aminocarboxylic acid and/or lactam; (c) 0-4 wt. % water; the amounts being relative to the sum of the compounds (a+b+c). Preferably the sum of the compounds (a+b+c) is at least 75 wt. % of the total composition, more preferably 85 wt. %, most preferably 90 wt. %. The polyamide obtained with the process has a &eegr;rel of more than 2.2. The process is eminently suitable for the preparation of polyamide-6 (polycapronamide) from a composition comprising 6-aminocapronamide, 6-aminocaproic acid and/or &egr;-caprolactam. This composition is preferably obtained via the reductive amination of a 5-formylyalerate ester, preferably 5-formylmethylvalerate in water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of polyamide-6 by polymerization of &egr;-caprolactam with full re-use of extracted caprolactam and oligomers. The extract is not subjected to a pretreatment for reduction of the cyclic dimer content. By carrying out the polymerization in two steps, the first at an elevated pressure, but lower than the vapor pressure of the reaction mixture supplied, and the second at approximately atmospheric or reduced pressure, the cyclic dimer content of the polymerizate leaving the second polymerization step is kept at a constant level. The process offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of production capacity and composition and proportion of recycled lactam in the lactam feed for the polymerization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polyamide comprising at least a step in which a composition that comprises at least (a) a primary aminocarbonamide and (b) an aminocarboxylic acid and/or a lactam is polymerised, said composition comprising at least

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polyamide nanocomposite composition by mixing in the melt phase a polyamide, a solid substance composed of anisotropic particles with a high aspect ratio and a liquid, the liquid being added to and subsequently mixed with a melt comprising at least the polyamide. Preferably water is chosen as the liquid. The invention also relates to a polyamide nanocomposite composition obtained by mixing in the melt phase a polyamide and a non-swollen solid substance composed of particles with a high aspect ratio. The polyamide nanocomposite compositions obtained with the process according to the invention and the polyamide nanocomposite compositions according to the invention can be used in all moulded parts which can be produced with a polyamide composition and which demand particularly good mechanical properties, for example for use in the motor compartment of a vehicle, for casings and for connectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of polyamide-6 by polymerization of &egr;-caprolactam with full re-use of extracted caprolactam and oligomers. The extract is not subjected to a pretreatment for reduction of the cyclic dimer content. By carrying out the polymerization in two steps, the first at an elevated pressure, but lower than the vapor pressure of the reaction mixture supplied, and the second at approximately atmospheric or reduced pressure, the cyclic dimer content of the polymerizate leaving the second polymerization step is kept at a constant level. The process offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of production capacity and composition and proportion of recycled lactam in the lactam feed for the polymerization.

Abstract: A process for the condensation of imides and alcohols or amines to ester acyl lactams, ester amide acyl lactams or amide acyl lactams by reacting a polyol or polyamine in the liquid phase with an acyl lactam compound is disclosed.

Abstract: Catalyst composition solid at room temperature, based on alkali metal lactamate, characterized in that the content of methanol, ethanol and n-propanol is lower than 0,2 wt. % and that 0.1-5 wt. % of another alcohol is present, chosen from isopropanol or a branched or unbranched aliphatic or aromatic alcohol with 4-18 carbon atoms, which alcohol has a boiling point of 80.degree. C. to 250.degree. C.This catalyst composition is suitable for lactam polymerization, especially in RIM techniques. Nylon block copolymer prepared with said catalyst composition and articles made frrom this nylon block copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molded product composed of a polymer alloy of a polyamide polymer and at least one polyurethane polymer, polyurea polymer, and/or polyisocyanurate polymer. The polymer alloy is an interpenetrated network of different polymers, a semi-interpenetrating network of different polymers, or a polyblend of different polymers.Reactant streams containing the compounds for forming the polymers of the polymer alloy are admixed to form a reaction mixture. The liquid reaction mixture is preferably a substantially homogeneous mixture of the reactant compounds. Each reactant stream thus contains only a portion of the components required to obtain the polymer alloy product. The resulting mixture is then rapidly introduced into a mold wherein chemical reaction takes place and the polymer alloy forms. Preferably, the mold is heated. The solid polymer alloy product is then recovered from the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to N-substitutecd acyl lactam compounds of the formula ##STR1## where R is a polyol residue originating from a polyol with the formula R-(OH).sub.x where x is a number.ltoreq.2R' a bivalent cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl, aralkyl, alkaryl or aryl radicalR" a bivalent radical having the following general formula ##STR2## wherein R'" is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl,R.sup.iv is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl whereR"' and R.sup.iv may jointly form a substituted or non-substituted cycloalkyl residuen is 0 or 1 and(-L) represents a non-opened lactam ring of the formula ##STR3## wherein Y is hydrocarbon residue with 3-11 carbon atoms. It has been found that this group of compounds is very suitable as activator in the preparation of nylon block copolymers, more specifically in the RIM or RRIM systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to the N-substituted acyl-lactam compound of the formula: ##STR1## where R' is a bivalent cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl, aralkyl, alkaryl or aryl radicalR" a bivalent radical having the following general formula ##STR2## wherein R'" is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl,R.sup.iv is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl whereR'" and R.sup.iv may jointly form a substituted or non-substituted cycloalkyl residuen is 0 or 1(-L) represents a non-opened lactam ring andx a number>1.It has been found that this group of compounds is very suitable as activator in the preparation of nylon polymers, more specifically in the so-called RIM (Reaction Injection Moulding) or RRIM (reinforced RIM) systems, in which it is highly essential for the polymerization to take effect within a very short time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an acyl-lactam compound characterized in that the reaction product of a lactam with a dicarboxylic acid anhydride is reacted with a polyol at a temperature of 150.degree. C. at most. These acyl-lactam compounds are very suitable as activator in the preparation of nylon block copolymers, more specifically in the RIM or RRIM systems.

Abstract: The invention concerns a simple process for preparing an ester acyllactam and/or esteramide acyllactam by the catalytic condensation of imide and alcohol, characterized in that a polyol and an acyllactam compound are reacted in the liquid state in the presencce of a halide, carboxylate or acetylacetonate from beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, boron, aluminium, zinc or cadmium.The invention is important for the preparation of compounds which may be used in the preparation of nylon block copolymers, more in particular in RIM-nylon systems (Reaction Injection Moulding), since when the compounds obtained according to the present invention are used in a RIM system, a very fast lactam polymerization takes place, and it therefore also relates to the preparation of nylon block copolymers.

Abstract: Process for preparing polyamide by anionically polymerizing lactam in the presence of an alkaline metal catalyst, an activator and at least one low molecular weight ester compound. The polymerization process is rapid and yields polyamides having good impact strengths. The process significantly reduces moulding time in reaction injection moulding.

Abstract: A reaction injection molding process is disclosed comprising:introducing a mixture of substantially stable reactant streams into a mold, said mixture, in the aggregate, containing polyamide polymer forming compounds and polyurethane polymer forming compounds, said polyamide polymer forming compounds including lactam, an anionic polymerization catalyst and a polymerization activator, said polyurethane polymer forming compounds including a polyol, a polyisocyanate, a chain extender if desired, and a polyurethane polymerization catalyst, said polyamide polymer forming compounds and said polyurethane forming compounds reacting to respectively form polyamide and polyurethane polymers in said mold to thereby yielding a reaction injection molded product composed of said polymers; andrecovering said product from said mold.

Abstract: The invention concerns a simple, reliable and reproducable process for the preparation of an N-substituted carbamoyl lactam compound, for example of the following formula: ##STR1## where: R is a polyol originating from a polyol having the formula R-(OH).sub.xi, where.sub.xi is an integer.gtoreq.2R' is an alkyl, aralkyl, alkaryl or aryl group, whether or not cyclic,.sub.yi is an integer.gtoreq.0,(--L) is an unopened lactam ring and(--L--) is an opened lactam block.This process is characterized in that a polyol and a lactam blocked polyisocyanate are reacted in the liquid state in the presence of a metal compound catalyst.

Abstract: The invention concerns an N-substituted carbamoyl-lactam compound characterized by the formula: ##STR1## where in the formula: R is a polyol radical from a polyol having the formula R--(OH).sub.xi, where .sub.xi is an integer.gtoreq.2R' is an alkyl, whether or not cyclic aralkyl, alkaryl or aryl group, .sub.yi is an integer>0,(--L) is an unopened lactam ring and(--L--) is an opened lactam block. The compoundsare highly suited for use as activators in preparing nylon block copolymers.

Abstract: Flame-retarding compounds are disclosed which are of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is a phosphorus derivative.