Preparation of star-branched polymers
AssigneeDsm N.V.
InventorsReinoldus J. M. Borggreve, Ellen M. M. De Brabander-Van De Berg, Guido P. C. Beusen
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of star-branched polymers by reaction in the melt of a polymer having at least one hetero atom in the chain with a compound having at least three functional groups. Suitable polymers are for instance polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyoxyalkyls, polyimines and copolymers of these. Functional groups are for instance amine, carboxyl, hydroxyl, isocyanate and imine groups. The process is very fast and requires no special purification. The process enables star-branched polymers to be prepared which are derived from so-called AABB polycondensates.
Claims17
A process for the preparation of a star-branched polyamide comprising
- providing a melt of a polymer having at least one hetero atom in the polymer chain and fracturing said polymer at the at least one hetero atom whereby at least one chain fragment is released, and reacting said at least one chain fragment with an organic compound having at least three identical functional groups that are capable of reacting with said chain fragment, wherein said polymer comprises at least one linear polyamide selected from the group consisting of polyamides obtained by ring opening polymerization of lactams and polycondensation of .alpha.,.omega.-amino acids, said linear polyamide having a number average molecular weight of between 10,000 and 100,000, and the functional groups of the organic compound are selected from the group consisting of amine, hydroxyl, thiol, carboxyl, acid anhydride, acid chloride, nitrile and imine groups.
A process for the preparation of a star-branched polyamide comprising
- melt-mixing at least one polyamide selected from the group consisting of polyamides obtained by ring opening polymerization of lactams and polycondensation of .alpha.,.omega.-amino acids, said polyamide having a number average molecular weight of between 10,000 and 100,000, under conditions effective to fracture the polyamide at a hetero atom in the polyamide whereby chain fragments are formed, said melt-mixing being conducted in the presence of an organic compound having at least three identical functional groups that are capable of reacting with said chain fragments, wherein said functional groups are selected from the group consisting of carboxyl and amine groups, whereby said star-branched polyamide is formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.