Effects of different composition ratio on the dielectric relaxation and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(ω-dodecalactam-co-ε-caprolactam-co-propylene oxide) copolymers

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physics Vol. 48; no. 23; pp. 2518 - 2529
• Main Authors: Mateva, R., Zhilkova, KR, Zamfirova, G., Díaz-Calleja, R., Garcia-Bernabé, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-12-2010; Wiley
• Subjects: Activated; anionic polymerization; Applied sciences; copolymerization; Copolymers; Dielectric relaxation; Electrical, magnetic and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Molecular dynamics; Organic polymers; Oxides; Permittivity; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyamide resins; polyamides; Properties and characterization; Recognition; Terpolymer; Structure effect; copolymerization; Crystal form; Composition effect; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Molecular relaxation; Glass transition temperature; anionic polymerization; Amide 12 copolymer; Dielectric relaxation; polyamides; Caprolactam copolymer; Propylene oxide copolymer; Activation energy; Aliphatic copolymer
• ISSN: 0887-6266; 1099-0488; 1099-0488
• DOI: 10.1002/polb.22156

The molecular dynamics of new poly (ω‐dodecalactam‐co‐ε‐caprolactam‐co‐propylene oxide) copolymers (DL/CL/PAC) has been investigated by using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) measurements. The copolymers were synthesized via anionic polymerization of relevant lactams activated with carbamoyl derivatives of telechelic hydroxyl terminated polypropylene oxide with isophorone diisocyanate (PAC). The calorimetric, X‐ray diffraction, and DMTA measurements were performed to recognize the influence of the composition ratio and the type of PAC on the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the synthesized copolymers. The DRS was used to study the frequency dependence of the dielectric permittivity of some isotherms from −110 to 145 °C. Copolymerization of ε‐caprolactam with about 10 wt % ω‐dodecalactam results in a copolymer that has lower water absorption, a melting point close to that of polyamide 6 and has a high enough degree of crystallinity in respect to high storage modulus. Five dielectric relaxations have been observed in the dielectric spectra, three at lower temperature and two at higher temperature. The copolymers have two glass transition temperatures for polyamide segments and polyether blocks, indicating microphase separation in the copolymers. Other studies directed toward molecular dynamics of polyamide DL/CL/PAC copolymers have not been reported. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010