Hydantoin polyamide-poly(oxyethylene) block copolymers as antistatic additives for polyamides

An antistatic yarn polymer additive composition consisting essentially of a hydantoin polyamide-poly(oxyethylene) block copolymer comprising the reaction product of a hydroxyterminated poly(oxyethylene) having a number average molecular weight of about 200 to about 4000, with a prepolymer comprising the reaction product of a first compound having the structural formula:

• ##STR15## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and P is COOH or CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2, with a second compound from the group consisting of piperazine or a compound having the following structural formula:
• Q -- R.sub.5 -- Q
• where if the second compound is piperazine, P is COOH;
• and if the second compound is Q--R.sub.5 --Q, when P is COOH, Q may be NH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2, when Q is NH.sub.2,R.sub.5 can be a straight chain alkylene radical of 3 to 12 carbon atoms, a branched chain alkylene radical of up to 36 carbon atoms, an alicyclic radical or a radical having the following structural formula:
• ##STR16## where R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are alkyl groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and when Q is CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2, R.sub.5 can be of the above or an aromatic radical;
• and when P is NH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2, Q is COOH, and R.sub.5 is selected from the group consisting of a straight chain alkylene radical of 2 to 12 carbon atoms, a branched chain alkylene radical of up to 36 carbon atoms, an aromatic radical and a radical having the structural formula III above.