Novel Reaction Kinetic Model for Anionic Polyamide-6

• Published in: Macromolecular materials and engineering Vol. 298; no. 2; pp. 163 - 173
• Main Authors: Teuwen, Julie J. E., van Geenen, Ab A., Bersee, Harald E. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.02.2013; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: activation energy; anionic polymerization; Applied sciences; Crystallization; Exact sciences and technology; Infusion; Kinetics; kinetics (polym.); Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; polyamides; Polymerization; Polymers; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Reaction kinetics; Resins; Studies; Thermosetting resins; Ring opening polymerization; Amide 6 polymer; Kinetic model; Bulk polymerization; polyamides; Anionic polymerization; Semiempirical method; kinetics (polym.); Experimental study; Activation energy; Modeling; Chemical reaction kinetics
• ISSN: 1438-7492; 1439-2054
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.201100457

Semi‐adiabatic temperature measurements are recorded and used to define semi‐empirical equations for the simulation and prediction of the anionic polyamide‐6 (APA‐6) reaction kinetics. The resin mixture used has a long infusion window before the reaction starts. The prediction of the induction time and its corresponding initial temperature of reaction is explored. By means of this semi‐empirical approach and an optimised fitting procedure, the reaction kinetics of APA‐6 can successfully be described. The adiabatic polymerisation can be predicted on the basis of an autocatalytic Kamal‐Sourour model for thermoset resins, and the crystallisation can be described using the isothermal crystallisation model. The reaction kinetics of APA‐6 is successfully described by introducing a new kinetic equation providing a more predictable way of describing the kinetics of this autocatalytic system. The resin mixture used has a long infusion window before reaction starts. Equations are defined for the prediction of the infusion window, i.e., induction time and the corresponding initial temperature of reaction.