Prodn. of polylaurinlactam in a homophase system - reaction time is greatly reduced in this way

摘要

Polylaurinlactam is prepd. by hydrolytically polymerising laurin lactam in the presence of H2O, H3PO4 and a discarboxylic acid at 280-310 degrees C and 70-120 atmos. Water is removed by throttling the mixt. down to a press. of 0.1-0.005 atmos. under isothermal conditions at a flow rate of 20-90m/sec. The prepolymerisate is then polymerised at 280-300 degrees C in a 0.5-2mm. thick layer. Polylaurinlactam is widely used as insulation material for cables in the automobile and machine-building industries, for seals and gaskets and as containers for agricultural chemicals and oils. It is also used in the mfr. of filter fabrics, tooth brushes, special types of clothes, etc. Polymerisation time is greatly reduced compared with previous processes, because a homophase reaction system is used. In an example, polylaurinlactam was prepd. from a laurin lactam melt contg. 10 wt.% H2O, 0.2 wt.% H3PO4 and 0.2 wt.% adipic acid. The process is >=4-6 times faster than previous continuous processes.