CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF POLYAMIDES - I - LUMINESCENCE ACCOMPANYING AUTOXIDATION OF LACTAMS AND THERMOLYSIS OF LACTAM HYDROPEROXIDES

The intensity of luminescence accompanying autoxidation of lactams and the effect of lactam oxidation products on its time course were measu red under conditions where the oxidation rate was independent of oxyge n pressure. Luminescence during thermolysis of lactam hydroperoxides w as measured. Products of the bimolecular reaction of lactam peroxy rad icals appear to be a rather weak source of luminescence. A stronger li ght emission comes from the excited state of the cyclic hydrogen-bonde d associate of lactam hydroperoxide with the omega-aldehyde of the ami de of the respective acid. Thus a distinct luminescence appears at tha t oxidation stage which, e.g. for Nylon 6 fibres, corresponds to the s tage of significant reduction of mechanical properties. At the same ti me, luminescence accompanying thermolysis of oxidation products of an N-alkylamide does not correspond to the oxidation degree of amides. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.