Preparation of polyamide 6/silica nanocomposites from silica surface initiated ring-opening anionic polymerization

Polyamide 6/silica nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ ring-opening anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam in the presence of sodium caprolactamate as a catalyst and caprolactam-functionalized silica as an initiator. The initiator precursor, isocyanate-functionalized silica, was pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Budapest University of Technology and Economics 2007-07-01
Series:eXPRESS Polymer Letters
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Online Access:http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0000241&mi=cd
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Summary:Polyamide 6/silica nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ ring-opening anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam in the presence of sodium caprolactamate as a catalyst and caprolactam-functionalized silica as an initiator. The initiator precursor, isocyanate-functionalized silica, was prepared by directly reacting commercial silica with excess toluene 2,4-diisocyanate. This polymerization was found to occur in a highly efficient manner at relatively low reaction temperature (170°C) and short reaction times (6 h). FTIR spectroscopy was utilized to follow the introduction and consumption of isocyanate groups on the silica surface. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the polyamide 6 was successfully grown from the silica surface. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to image polymer-functionalized silica, showing fine dispersion of silica particles and their size ranging from 20 to 40 nm.
ISSN:1788-618X