Polymerization of lactams, 95 Preparation of polyesteramides by the anionic polymerization of e-caprolactam in the presence of poly(e-caprolactone)

Preparation of polyesteramides-poly[(*e-caprolactam)-co-(*e-caprolactone)]s by anionic polymerization of *e-caprolactam in the presence of poly(*e-caprolactone) at 150 DGC was studied in this paper. *e-Caprolactam magnesium bromide was used as an initiator of polymerization and polymeric materials containing 5-25wt% *e-caprolactone units were obtained. Thermal methods (DSC and DMA) were employed for characterization of poly[(*e-caprolactam)-co-(*e-caprolactone)]s and their mechanical properties were also evaluated. By introducing the activator with N-acyllactam structure, the polymerization rate increased and it was possible to carry out the polymerization at 110 DGC. Mechanical properties of polyesteramides were influenced by both the content of *e-caprolactone units incorporated into copolymer and polymerization temperature. The mechanism of incorporation of poly(*e-caprolactone) is discussed. The results show that it is not possible to restrict exchange transacylation reactions, progressing in the course of polymerization, by kinetic tools.