POLY(ETHER AMIDE) TRIBLOCK AND STAR BLOCK-COPOLYMERS

Triblock and three arm, poly(ether amide) star block copolymers have b een synthesized and characterized. Di- and tri-functional amine termin ated polyethers were reacted with caprolactam at elevated temperatures to produce the block copolymers. The polyether amines were incorporat ed at levels ranging from 5%-40%. Differential scanning calorimetry(DS C) evaluation reveals no reduction in the crystalline melting point of the polycaprolactam end blocks up to 40% polyether incorporation. Dyn amic mechanical spectroscopy and FTIR were used to confirm the incorpo ration of the polyether. A comparison is made between triblock and sta r block copolymers, and between poly(propylene glycol) and poly(ethyle ne glycol) polyether midblocks. These block copolymers have improved i mpact performance as well as a flexural modulus that first increases a nd then decreases as the amount of polyether is increased in the block copolymer.