The effect of the catalyst used in the anionic polymerization of lactams on the thermal stability of polyamides

Lactamates of Group I-III metals were used to study the effect of the catalyst of anionic polymerization of e-caprolactam (CL) on the kinetics of the process and the thermal stability of formed polymers. It was shown that the initiating activity of the catalyst alters in the series MgBrCL > 1/2(MgCL 2 +MgBr 2 )> NaCL> Na[AlC 2 (OC 2 H 4 OCH 3 ) 2 ]> MgCL 2 > MgCL(OC 3 H 7 )> AlCL 3 . On the basis of TGA and measurements of the melt index, it was concluded that thermal stability depends on the catalyst used and alters in the series NaCL< 1/2(MgCL 2 +MgBr 2 )< MgBrCL< MgCL 2 < MgCL(OC 3 H 7 )