POLYAMIDES FROM LACTAMS VIA ANIONIC RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION .3. RHEOLOGY

This paper summarizes a study on the time-dependent growth of complex viscosity during the anionic ring-opening polymerization of caprolacta m employing isophthaloyl-bis-caprolactam and caprolactam-magnesium-bro mide as initiator and catalyst. The complex viscosity of the system-ny lon 6 polymerizing in its monomer-has been defined over the temperatur e range of 120-160 degrees C by in situ mixing and polymerizing two ca prolactam streams, one containing initiator, the other containing cata lyst, between oscillating platens of a Rheometrics rheometer. Isotherm al rheometry at five temperatures was accomplished for one initiator/c atalyst combination. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.