PREPARATION OF POLYAMIDES DERIVED FROM 1,6-DIAMANTANE DICARBOXYLIC CHLORIDE BY SOLUTION POLYCONDENSATION AND INTERFACIAL POLYCONDENSATION

1,6-Diamantane dicarboxylic acyl chloride (I) was used as a monomer wi th various aromatic diamines to synthesize polyamides by interfacial p olycondensation and solution polycondensation. The polyamides prepared by interfacial polycondensation had inherent viscosities between 0.38 and 0.15 dL/g. The polyamides prepared by solution polycondensation h ad inherent viscosities between 0.62 and 0.25 dL/g. The polyamide IIIa prepared by solution polycondensation showed the main melting transit ion at 380 degrees C by dynamic mechanical analysis. In addition, it w as quite temperature-stable and maintained good mechanical properties (G' similar to 10(8) Pa) up to high temperatures close to the main tra nsition well above 350 degrees C. The polyamide IIIa had a tensile str ength of 35 MPa, elongations to break of 10%, and initial modulus of 0 .8 GPa. Some of the polyamides were soluble in NMP, DMAc, and DMSO, de pending on soft segment moiety of diamine (II). The polyamides prepare d by interfacial polycondensation have a greater tendency to form crys tal than those prepared by solution polycondensation, as evidenced by x-ray diffraction studies. These polyamides had glass transition tempe ratures in the 270-300 degrees C range, and 5% weight loss temperature s up to 435 degrees C in nitrogen. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.