Abstract: Polytrimethylene ether ester amide and use thereof.

Abstract: Described is the use of metal oxides as heterogeneous catalysts in a process for producing polyamides by polymerization of lactams and optionally further polyamide-forming monomers wherein the metal oxides are used in a form which permits mechanical removal from the reaction mixture and are removed from the reaction mixture during or after the polymerization, to reduce the extractables content of the polyamide obtained.

Abstract: For the anionic polymerization of lactams: (a) (i) a catalyst capable of creating a lactamate and (ii) a regulator chosen from amides of formula R1-NH—CO-R2, in which R1 can be substituted by an R3-CO—NH— or R3-0— radical and in which R1, R2 and R3 denote an aryl, alkyl or cycloalkyl radical, are dissolved in the molten lactam, (a1) the solution from stage (a) is cooled, optionally to the solid state in a form which can be divided, (a2) the product from stage (a1) is optionally reheated to a temperature below the polymerization temperature of the lactam, (a3) optionally, the product from stage (a1) is reheated and is maintained at a temperature between the melting temperature of the lactam and 15° C. above, and (b) the produce from any one of stages (a1), (a2) or (a3) is introduced into a mixing device or mold and is then heated to a temperature sufficient to obtain the bulk polymerization of the lactam.

Abstract: A free radical-curable epoxy composition comprises epoxy resin and a copolymerizable material including a monomer having amide, acrylamide, or hydroxyl functionality, and is advantageously devoid of any cationic catalyst ingredient.

Abstract: In a process for producing polyamides, a mixture comprising hexamethylenediamine and aminocapronitrile and obtained from the hydrogenation of adiponitrile is reacted with water and a dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A process for the production of polyamides is disclosed. In a first reaction step, suitable monomers such as caprolactam or an aliphatic aminocarboxylic acid are reacted with polyfunctional amines, which contain at least one secondary amino group, and/or with salts containing such amines and dicarboxylic acids. The reaction product is in a further process step undergoes solid phase post-condensation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the hydrolytic polymerisation of &egr;-caprolactam to polyamide-6, comprising a step (a) in which ring opening of part of the &egr;-caprolactam to the corresponding amino caproic acid is effected in the presence of water and a step (b) in which polyaddition and polycondensation are effected under preferably anhydrous reaction conditions, in which at least one of the steps (a) and (b) is carried out in a reactor in which a self-renewing interface between the molten phase and the gas phase with a large surface/volume ratio of the molten phase is effected. The method is preferably effected in an horizontal scraped-surface reactor, since relatively strong mixing of the molten phase can be achieved in these and the molten phase is present in a thin layer, a large gas volume is present having a relatively high partial pressure of the water vapour and the thin layer is constantly renewed by shear forces.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device (1) for the condensation of water from an aqueous liquid by means of a temperature gradient, which device comprises, (a) a vapor chamber (5) that can be brought in contact with a condensation compartment (4) wherein at least part of the water vapor from the aqueous liquid condenses, and wherein inside of said vapor chamber is located, (b) an evaporation compartment (2) having a least a wall with an outer surface and comprising a closed, hollow and water permeable membrane, and which vapor chamber has an outer surface that comprises a substantially water-impermeable insulation skirt (3) with an inner and an outer surface, such that there is a gap between the inner surface of the insulation skirt and the outer surface of the evaporation compartment, and wherein the vapor chamber has a lower surface of an active width (w) which is at least 10% of the effective diameter (d) of the evaporation compartment.

Abstract: A process for producing polyamides by reacting at least one lactam and optionally further polyamide-forming monomers with aqueous monomer and oligomer extracts obtained during the extraction with water of the polymer product obtained in the production of polyamides, the water content of the reaction mixture being in the range from 0.5 to 13% by weight comprises conducting the reaction in the presence of metal oxides, beta-zeolites, sheet-silicates or silica gels, which may be doped, as heterogeneous catalysts, the heterogeneous catalysts being used in the form which permits mechanical removal from the reaction mixture and are removed from the reaction mixture in the course of the polymerization or after it has ended.

Abstract: Disclosed are the use of lactams, aminocarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof as acceleratant or cocatalyst in the production of polyamides from aminonitriles and water, and a suitable process therefor.

Abstract: A polyoxyalkylene polyol or monool (I) of the general formula (1) below, in which not less than 40% of the terminally located hydroxyl-containing groups, namely —AO—H groups, are primary hydroxyl-containing groups of the general formula (2) below, or; a method of producing ring-opening polymerization products, by subjecting a heterocyclic compound to ring-opening addition polymerization with an active hydrogen-containing compound, using as a catalyst tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, tris(pentafluorophenyl)aluminum, etc.

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 continuous process for producing polyamides by reacting at least one aminonitrile with water comprises the following steps: (10) reacting at least one aminonitrile with water at a temperature of from 200 to 290° C. at a pressure of from 40 to 70 bar in a flow tube containing a Brönsted acid catalyst selected from a beta-zeolite, sheet-silicate or metal oxide catalyst in the form of a fixed bed, (11) diabatically or adiabatically expanding the reaction mixture from step (1) into a first separation zone to a pressure of from 20 to 40 bar, the pressure being at least 10 bar lower than the pressure in step (1), and to a temperature within the range from 220 to 290° C. by flash evaporation and removal of ammonia, water and any aminonitrile monomer and oligomer, (12) further reacting the reaction mixture from step (2) in the presence of water at a temperature of from 200 to 290° C.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polyamide comprising macromolecular chains having a star-shaped configuration, a method for making said polyamide and compositions comprising same. More particularly, the invention concerns a method for making a polyamide comprising linear macromolecular chains and star-shaped macromolecular chains with control of the star-shaped chain concentration in the polymer. Said control is obtained by using besides the polyfunctional polymers and amino acids or lactams a polyfunctional comonomer comprising either acid functions or amine functions. The resulting polyamide has optimal mechanical and rheological properties for improving the speed and quality of mould filling and producing mouldable compositions comprising high filler factors.

Abstract: A process for using low-molecular weight compounds that are water-extracted from (co)polyamides in the production of polyamide is disclosed. The process entails reacting these compounds with 10 to 15 wt. % water for a period of 3.5 to 6 hours at a temperature of 220° C. to 270° C., and polymerizing the resulting product along with caprolactam.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of pulverulent, cationic, crosslinked polymers based on monoethylenically unsaturated monomers containing a quaternized or quaternizable nitrogen atom comprises carrying out the polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide as inert diluent with mixing at from 31° C. to 150° C. and above 73 bar.

Abstract: A process for making nylon 6, in which caprolactam and water are reacted in a multistage reactive distillation column.

Abstract: Process for increasing the molecular weight of nylon 6 while reducing its content of caprolactam and other volatiles by a two-staged heating process.

Abstract: Continuous anionic polymerization and melt-spinning of a polycaprolactam includes forming a reaction mixture by bringing at least two streams of liquid caprolactam respectively containing a polymerization initiator and co-initiator into contact with one another, and then subjecting the reaction mixture to anionic polymerization reaction conditions to obtain a molten polycaprolactam. The molten polycaprolactam is the directly (i.e., without intermediate solidification) transferred to, and extruded through, a fiber-forming orifice of a spinneret to form a fiber thereof. One exemplary system to achieve such continuous anionic polymerization and melt-spinning of polycaprolactam includes a mixer for receiving and mixing at least two streams of liquid caprolactam respectively containing a polymerization initiator and co-initiator, and a reactor and melt-spinning apparatus downstream of the mixer.

Abstract: Synthetic polyamide comprising one or more of the following compounds: a) a compound having at least one sterically hindered amino group, [hereinafter referred to as compounds a)]; or b) a trimesinic acid trialkylamide, at least one alkyl group of which bears at least one free amino and/or alkylamino group [hereinafter referred to as compounds b)]; or c) a trialkylamino-substituted triazine, at least one alkyl group of which carries a free amino and/or alkylamino group [hereinafter referred to as compounds c)]; or d) a dyestuff that is free of sulphonic acid groups and contains at least one group that is reactive to a hydroxy and/or amino group [hereinafter referred to as compounds d)]; or e) a synthetic polyamide containing at least one group that is reactive with a hydroxy and/or amino group [hereinafter referred to as compounds e)].

Abstract: Process for making nylon 6 in which a feed stream containing a major portion of caprolactam and/or nylon 6 prepolymer and a minor portion of aminocapronitrile is fed to a multistage reactive distillation column in which the feed stream flows countercurrently to a steam stream.

Abstract: The disclosure is a process for preparing polyamides by concentrating the wash water extract from the extraction of polyamide to an extractables content of not more than 85% by weight, adding fresh lactam down to a water content of from 0.5 to 13% by weight, and effecting at least one adiabatic expansion during the polymerization.

Abstract: A process for preparing inherently light- and heat-stabilized polyamides comprises polymerizing in the presence of at least one triacetonediamine compound of the formula where R is hydrogen or hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably alkyl having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or benzyl.

Abstract: A coating powder comprising a macrocyclic oligomer and a ring-opening polymerization agent is applied to an article, fused, and converted to a linear polymer at a temperature of from about 160 to about 400° C. The powder has the low melt viscosity and friability of a thermoset powder but is converted at high fusing temperatures to a tough coating having the good impact resistance and good elongation of a thermoplastic powder. The oligomer is a polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyimide, polyamideimide. The article may be coated electrostatically or in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: A high molecular weight polyester-amide block copolymer is produced by reacting a mixture of lower molecular weight polyester and polyamide in the melt with a carbonyl bislactam, especially carbonyl biscaprolactam. The higher molecular weight block copolymer may be obtained in as short a time as 2 minutes, whereas, at least about 10 minutes is required in a conventional process, under comparable conditions, using a bislactam.

Abstract: A process for making 6-aminocaproic acid by hydroformylating 3-pentenenitrile to produce 3-, 4-, and 5-formylvaleronitrile (FVN mixture), oxidizing the FVN mixture to produce 3-, 4-, and 5-cyanovaleric acid; hydrogenating the resulting product to produce 6-aminocaproic acid, 5-amino-4-methylvaleric acid, and 4-amino-3-ethylbutyric acid; and isolating 6-aminocaproic acid from the reaction product. The resulting 6-aminocaproic acid can be cyclized to produce caprolactam.

Abstract: In a process for producing polyamides by polymerization of lactams in the presence of metal oxides as heterogeneous catalysts, the metal oxides are used in a form which permits mechanical removal from the reaction mixture and are removed from the reaction mixture in the course of or on completion of the polymerization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a randomly branched polyamide comprising at least units derived from:

Abstract: This invention is directed to a coating composition used for original equipment manufacturing or refinishing uses in the automotive industry, which coating composition utilizes an acrylic polymer which contains substituted or unsubstituted exomethylene lactones or lactams as a comonomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the hydrolytic polymerisation of &egr;-caprolactam to polyamide-6, comprising a step (a) in which ring opening of part of the &egr;-caprolactam to the corresponding amino caproic acid is effected in the presence of water and a step (b) in which polyaddition and polycondensation are effected under preferably anhydrous reaction conditions, in which at least one of the steps (a) and (b) is carried out in a reactor in which a self-renewing interface between the molten phase and the gas phase with a large surface/volume ratio of the molten phase is effected. The method is preferably effected in an horizontal scraped-surface reactor, since relatively strong mixing of the molten phase can be achieved in these and the molten phase is present in a thin layer, a large gas volume is present having a relatively high partial pressure of the water vapour and the thin layer is constantly renewed by shear forces.

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 continuous extraction of polyamide particles in an essentially vertical extraction column using an aqueous extractant comprises using an extraction column that is divided into two zones and performing an extraction with a recirculating 15-40% strength by weight aqueous &egr;-caprolactam solution in the first zone and then with countercurrent water at a from 5 to 40° C. lower temperature in the second zone. The process provides for economical extraction of polyamides with a low level of monomers and oligomers.

Abstract: A polyamide with excellent stretching properties is disclosed, which comprises 50 to 99.8 mol % of a unit derived from a lactam and/or an aminocarboxylic acid, 0.1 to 25 mol % of a unit derived from a dicarboxylic acid, and 0.1 to 25 mol % of a unit derived from a diamine component containing 10 to 100 mol % of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a branched saturated diamine having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, a branched alicyclic diamine having 6 to 16 carbon atoms, and a norbornanediamine.

Abstract: The continuous process for producing a polyamide by reacting at least one aminonitrile with water comprises the following steps: (1) reacting at least one aminonitrile with water at a temperature from 90 to 400° C. and a pressure from 0.1 to 15×106 Pa in a flow tube containing packing elements of a Brönsted acid catalyst selected from beta-zeolite, sheet-silicate or titanium dioxide packing elements and metallic packing elements to obtain a reaction mixture, (2) further reacting the reaction mixture at from 150 to 400° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a high-molecular polyamide or polyester by melt-mixing polyamide or polyester having a lower molecular weight with a carbonyl bislactam having formula 1, in which n=an integer of between 3 and 15.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a process for modifying a polyamide polymer comprising contacting a reactive modifier with diamine/diacid salt and/or an amino-acid of a hydrolyzed lactam or lactam to form a modified polyamide. A second embodiment of the present invention is a process for modifying a polyamide polymer comprising contacting a reactive modifier with diamine then contacting the resulting modified diamine with diacid and/or lactam to form a modified polyamide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for modifying polyamide polymers by attaching a substituted or unsubstituted 2-hydroxy-ethyl modifying group to the amide nitrogen atoms and the modified product formed. The process comprises contacting an epoxy containing molecule with diamine/diacid salt and/or an amino-acid of a hydrolyzed lactam or lactam to form a modified polyamide.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antistatic monomer-cast nylon (MC nylon) polymer. The MC nylon polymer includes graphite particles nonuniformly distributed in an MC nylon polymer structure. The graphite particles are partially agglomerated and form a micro-domain phase. The antistatic MC nylon has volume specific resistance of about 105 &OHgr;·cm to about 109&OHgr;·cm. Also disclosed is a method of producing antistatic MC nylon. A mixture comprising a monomer of the nylon and graphite is prepared and cast in a mold. The mixture is stirred to disperse the graphite and the monomer polymerizes to form an antistatic MC polymer.

Abstract: Copolymers containing N-vinyllactam derivatives protected at 3-position are provided and represented by the following formula. The copolymers are used as a photoresist material suitable for deep uv process so that high sensitivity and resolution can be obtained. In addition, ultrafine circuits can be formed and an exceptional improvement in PED stability can be accomplished by use of the photoresist.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient process for the recovery of caprolactam from polycaprolactam-containing waste material. The present process for depolymerizing multi-component waste material comprising polycaprolactam and non-polycaprolactam components to form caprolactam comprises the step of: in the absence of added catalyst, contacting the multi-component waste material with superheated steam at a temperature of about 250° C. to about 400° C. and at a pressure within the range of about 1 atm to about 100 atm and substantially less than the saturated vapor pressure of water at the temperature wherein a caprolactam-containing vapor stream is formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing polyamides, in which, in a first step, the anionic polymerization of at least one lactam is carried out and then, in a second step, a heat treatment is carried out on the polymer obtained, which has a distribution of the molar masses measured by SEC having a shape close to a Gaussian curve with a high-mass tail, at a high enough temperature and for a long enough time so as to obtain a unimodal distribution of the molar masses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a high-molecular polyamide or polyester by melt-mixing polyamide or polyester having a lower molecular weight with a carbonyl bislactam having formula 1, in which n=an integer of between 3 and 15. With the process according to the invention a permanent increase in the molecular weight of a polyamide is obtained within 2 minutes, whereas this takes at least 10 minutes under comparable conditions using a bislactam according to the state of the art.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for sealing the seams of a water vapour permeable lining comprising a laminate of a textile material and a waterproof, but water vapour permeable film in which sections of said laminate with the textile sides facing one another are bonded together along the contours of the material to be lined, after which the lining is dipped in a solution of a hydrophilic polymer in an organic solvent which acts as a swelling agent for the waterproof film of the laminate, followed by evaporation of the solvent. The water vapour permeable film in the laminate preferably is made of a hydrophilic copolyetherester or copolyetheramide, while the hydrophilic polymer soluble in an organic solvent preferably is a copolyetherester.

Abstract: A continuous process for the polymerization of omega-aminonitriles (e.g., 6-aminocapronitriles) which is introduced at the top of a vertical multistage reactor being swept countercurrently with steam and polyamide (e.g., nylon 6) is recovered near the bottom of the vertical multistage reactor. By virtue of independent temperature control at each of the vertical stages of the multistage reactor, the polyamide recovered is typically characterized as having unreacted nitrile end groups of less than 20 gram equivalents per million grams of polyamide, and less than 25 gram equivalents of secondary amine branching per million grams of polyamide.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polyamide by reacting at least one aminonitrile with water comprises: (1) reacting at least one aminonitrile with water at a temperature from 100 to 360° C. and a pressure from 0.1 to 35×106 Pa to obtain a reaction mixture, (2) further reacting the reaction mixture at a temperature from 150 to 400° C. and a pressure which is lower than the pressure in step 1, the temperature and the pressure being selected so as to obtain a first gas phase and a first liquid or a first solid phase or a mixture of first solid and first liquid phase, and the first gas phase is separated from the first liquid or the first solid phase or from the mixture of first liquid and first solid phase, and (3) admixing the first liquid or the first solid phase or the mixture of first liquid and first solid phase with a gaseous or liquid phase comprising water at a temperature from 150 to 360° C. and a pressure from 0.1 to 30×106 Pa to obtain a product mixture.

Abstract: Nylon 6 chip is obtainable by hydrolytic polymerization of caprolactam in the presence of dicarboxylic acids as chain regulators, subsequent processing of the polymer melt into chip, extraction of the low molecular weight portions from the chip with water and subsequent drying of the chip.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyamide from dicarboxylic acid monomer and diamine monomer comprises the steps of: (a) mixing molten dicarboxylic acid monomer and molten diamine monomer in equimolar amounts, thereby producing a molten reaction mixture; (b) flowing the reaction mixture through at least one unvented reaction vessel, the residence time of the reaction mixture in the at least one unvented reaction vessel being between about 0.01 minutes and about 30 minutes, thereby forming a first product stream that comprises polyamide and water of polymerization; and (c) flowing the first product stream through at least one vented vessel, whereby water of polymerization is removed, thereby forming a second product stream that comprises polyamide. The process can operate continuously, and there is no need to add water to the dicarboxylic acid, to the diamine, or to the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polyamide, a method for its manufacture and compounds containing it. It involves, specifically, a polyamide obtained through polymerization of an aminoacid or lactam such as caprolactam in the presence of a compound having at least three functions capable of generating an amide function by reacting either with an amine function or with an acid fonction. The polyamide obtained in this way has at least part of these molecular chains in a star formation, the other part being in linear form. This polymer is useful, inter alia, in the manufacture of compounds that are to be molded, since it has minimal viscosity in a melted medium while still retaining the mechanical properties of a linear polymer.

Abstract: An inherently light- and heat-stabilized polyamide has at least one piperidine compound bonded to the backbone polymer chain and at least one 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine compound bonded to the backbone polymer chain. The inherently light- and heat-stabilized polyamide may be used to form articles such as, for example, fibers, carpets, yarns, and textile fabrics.

Abstract: Colpolyamides resulting from the polycondensation of a mixture of (a) dodecanelactam (L12) or of 12-aminododecanoic acid (A12) and of (b) 11-aminoundecanoic acid (A11) are characterized in that the monomer L12 or A12 represents 1 to 15% or 85 to 99% by weight of the mixture, and the copolyamides have melting points (mp) as a function of the composition, the units originating from the monomer A12 and L12 being in a majority or minority respectively:(1) A12 or L12 is a majority: mp (.degree. C.).gtoreq.176-0.567.times.(% A11)(2) A12 or L12 is a majority: mp (.degree.).gtoreq.187-0.5.times.(% A12 or L12),the melting points being determined by taking the peaks of the exotherm signals obtained in differential thermal analysis with a rate of heating of 10.degree. C./minute for the second heating run. Such copolyamides have a property of resilience at low temperature and a property of improved suppleness, especially when plasticizer is added to them.