Nylon 4,I: an amorphous polyamide

Abstract

The melt polymerization of nylon 4, I was studied, starting with nylon-salt and nylon prepolymers ( η inh=0.25). With nylon-salt only low molecular polymers were obtained, while with prepolymers the inherent viscosity could be raised to 0.77 (3h, 270°, vac.). The cyclization of tetra methylene diamine to pyrrolidine seem to be the major disturbing factor. The polymer is glassy and could easily be melt pressed. The torsion modulus of the material at 20°C was high (1.8 10 9 Pa) and remained high to near its T g (138°C).