Statistical Analysis of the Catalyst and Activator Level on In Situ Polymerization of Laurolactam during Reactive Melt Blending

Faridirad F,Ahmadi S

doi:10.4172/2157-7544.1000168

Abstract

In the present paper, in situ ring opening anionic polymerization of laurolactam towards polyamide 12 (PA12) was investigated, during reactive melt blending. The reaction was taken place in an internal mixer, in the presence of sodium caprolactam (catalyst), and toluene diisocyanate (activator). The effect of catalyst and activator contents on initiation time of the reaction and the residual monomer was carried out in this study. Solvent extraction method was used in order to remove the residual monomer. The experimentation is further undergone to statistical analysis to extract the absolute optimal values of activator- catalyst content in synthesized polyamide 12. Two-factor design in Response Surface Method (RMS) is suitably applied for validation analysis of experimental data. The optimum content of catalyst and activator was obtained 2.53% and 1.15%, which offers the polyamide 12 with minimum residual monomer equal to 1.26%.

Highlights

Polyamides are well-known engineering thermoplastic materials which have high mechanical strength, high melting point, low density and high potential of forming complicated structures from molding injection [1]
polyamide 12 (PA12) can be obtained through anionic polymerization of laurolactam
In this study anionic polymerization of Laurolactam was studied to produce polyamide 12, and analytical tests were applied to investigate the effect of sodium caprolactam (NaCL), as catalyst and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) as an activator, on reaction time and the residual monomer, in different concentrations

Summary

Introduction

Polyamides are well-known engineering thermoplastic materials which have high mechanical strength, high melting point, low density and high potential of forming complicated structures from molding injection [1]. The experimental results showed that the addition of 3% catalyst and 3% activator to the formulation gave the best properties. These conditions led to the lowest residual monomer and better mechanical properties as well [12]. In this study anionic polymerization of Laurolactam was studied to produce polyamide 12, and analytical tests were applied to investigate the effect of sodium caprolactam (NaCL), as catalyst and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) as an activator, on reaction time and the residual monomer, in different concentrations. The optimization study was evaluated in order to validate the experimental results and to identify the best-fit values

Materials and methods

Results and Discussion

Residual

Conclusion