Abstract
A kinetic study of the cationic polymerization of caprolactam (CL) catalyzed by anhydrous H 3PO 4 has been carried out in the 220–240°C range using a 1–4 mole% catalyst concentration. The reaction has been found to be of first order with respect to the monomer and of second order with respect to the catalyst; its specific feature is the rapid establishment of a stationary concentration of propagating chains. Proof has been obtained that N-phosphoryl-ϵ-aminocaproic acid forms as an intermediate product and a kinetic scheme is suggested which incorporates the dehydration of H 3PO 4 to HPO 3.
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