Continuous process for the production of polyamides

#(1) Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to a process for preparing polyamides having a high degree of polymerization from diamines and dicarboxylic acids, and particularly to a novel continuous polymerization process for preparing wholly or even partially aromatic polyamides from aromatic diamines and aromatic dicarboxylic acid dihalides. Linear polyamides having a high degree of polymerization made from diamines and dicarboxylic acid dihalides, particularly aromatic diamines and aromatic dicarboxylic acid dihalides can be processed into fibers, films, coatings and other shaped articles.

#(2) Description of Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a cross sectional elevation of one embodiment of a reactor system for carrying out a process for preparing polyamides; and

#FIG. 2 is a cross sectional plan view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1.

#The process of the invention uses prepolymer solution(s) comprising at least one polar, non-basic and inert organic liquid medium, and at least one prepolymer formed by reacting substantially equimolar amounts of at least diamine and at least one dicarboxylic acid dihalide in the at least one polar, non-basic and inert organic liquid medium.

#When substantially equimolar amounts of dicarboxylic acid dihalides and diamines are reacted in at least one polar, non-basic and inert organic liquid medium, a condensation product of the diamine and the dicarboxylic acid dihalide having a low degree of polymerization is formed. The condensation product having a low degree of polymerization may also be referred to herein as the “prepolymer.”

#The prepolymer(s) obtained by the reaction take the form of a solution or a dispersion in the organic liquid medium. The prepolymers may be partly present as solid fine particles or swollen particles in the dispersed phase. The dicarboxylic acid dihalides and diamines may be partly present as unreacted dicarboxylic acid dihalides or as a hydro-halic salt of the diamine. The significant characteristic is that the prepolymer(s) in the state of dispersion as well as solution retain a potential of further polycondensation.