1
Return

Enhanced high-temperature dynamic mechanical properties of monomer casting polyamide 6 in the presence of trace calcium chloride

delete2026-07-31
delete0
delete
OA
AI
M
Mamiko Narita *
H
Hiromitsu Tanaka
T
Takuya Morishita *
DOI:10.1007/s00289-026-06620-1delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Monomer casting (MC) polyamide 6 (PA6), prepared by the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam within a mold, has attracted attention owing to its good mechanical properties, high heat resistance, high dimensional stability, and good processability compared with those of general PA6 (gPA6). However, further improvements in its mechanical properties under harsh environments, such as high temperatures and wet conditions, are required for applications including next-generation automobiles and electronic devices. Herein, the effects of varying the amounts of NaH in the anionic polymerization initiator and metal salts (MgCl2 or CaCl2) added during polymerization were investigated to enhance the heat resistance of MCPA6. Increasing the amount of NaH increased the glass-transition temperature (Tg) and improved the storage modulus (E’) at temperatures < 100 °C, while substantially decreasing E’ at higher temperatures (≥ 150 °C). Adding a trace amount of CaCl2 (0.25–0.75 mol%) to this polymerization system containing 0.87 mol% NaH increased both Tg and E’ in the temperature range of 40–150 °C. Even under wet conditions, adding 0.25–0.75 mol% CaCl2 substantially improved E’ in the range of 40–150 °C; however, this effect was not observed when gPA6 was melt-blended with CaCl2. Although CaCl2 interacted with the amide groups, introducing trace amounts of CaCl2 did not reduce the crystallinity of MCPA6; instead, it increased the stiffness of the amorphous region. Therefore, MCPA6 with optimized amounts of NaH and CaCl2 is promising as a heat- and moisture-resistant thermoplastic matrix for various applications, including high-performance fiber-reinforced plastics for the automotive and electronic industries.

Journal

Polymer Bulletin cover
Polymer Bulletin
IF:
4
Papers:
8.5K
Citations:
1.5W

Organization

T
Toyota Central R&D Labs
Scholars:
20
Papers: 7
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers