Application of hindered piperidine amine and/or tertiary amine in the modification of polyamide 6

PA 6 resin was produced in a hydrolytic‐polymeric process in which ε‐caprolactam was polymerized in the presence of water as initiator, isophthalic acid and benzoic acid as chain regulators, by polymerizing caprolactam in the presence of 7.5% by weight of water, 0.2% by weight of isophthalic acid, 0.1% by weight of benzoic acid, each percentage being based on caprolactam. By adding hindered piperidine amine and/or tertiary amine to the polymeric system, the effects of additives on the polymer were studied. The results showed that: the addition of 0.1 ∼ 0.2% additives can improve the melt stability of polyamide 6; the addition of 0.2% additives can protect mechanical properties of polyamide 6 fibers after exposure to high temperature; and the addition of 0.05 ∼ 0.25% additives can increase the amino end group content of polyamide 6 and thereby increase the dyeability of polyamide fibers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 2489–2493, 2004