Random Copolymers from Polyamide 11 and Polyamide 12 by Reactive Extrusion: Synthesis, Eutectic Phase Behavior, and Polymorphism

© 2016 American Chemical Society. Random copolymers from polyamide 11 (PA11) and polyamide 12 (PA12) were obtained from the parent homopolymers by transamidation reactions during high-temperature reactive extrusion. Concomitantly, the product molecular weight increased by postcondensation reactions. With both species being crystallizable, eutectic phase behavior was observed and explained in terms of the Flory theory for random copolymer melting. Close to the eutectic composition, both species crystallize in a competitive mode, which induces mesomorphic phase formation. Although the crystal centers most likely remain PA11 or PA12 pure, it is argued that foreign comonomer units might be tolerated at the crystal borders, at least for PA11 crystals. To understand the copolymer crystallization behavior in general, large amounts of rigid amorphous material need to be created alongside the crystallites. Because of their low melting point and since the crystallinity and mechanical performance typical of the parent homopolymers are preserved, random PA11/PA12 copolymers are suited for blending with thermally unstable (biobased) substances.status: publishe