CONTINUOUS POLYAMIDATION PROCESS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process for producing a polyamide directly from a dicarboxylic acid monomer and a diamine monomer. SOLUTION: The process for producing the polyamide from the dicarboxylic acid monomer and the diamine monomer includes the steps of: (a) mixing a molten dicarboxylic acid monomer and a molten diamine monomer in equimolar amounts, thereby producing a molten reaction mixture; (b) flowing the reaction mixture through at least one unvented reaction vessel, the residence time of the reaction mixture in the at least one unvented reaction vessel being between about 0.01 min and about 30 min, thereby forming a first product stream that comprises a polyamide and water of polymerization; and (c) flowing the first product stream through at least one vented vessel, whereby the water of polymerization is removed, thereby forming a second product stream that comprises a polyamide. The process can operate continuously, and there is no need to add water to the reaction mixture. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT