A series of sustainable polyamide 11 (PA 11) copolymers was synthesized <i>via</i> bulk melt polycondensation using 11-aminoundecanoic acid, hexamethylene diamine (HMDA), and dimer acid (DA). DA, a waste vegetable oil-based branched dicarboxylic acid, was prepared through the hydrolysis of triglyceride, the conjugation of the resulting fatty acid, and a subsequent Diels-Alder reaction. The incorporation of HMDA and DA into the PA 11 copolymers was evaluated by showing the disappearance of their carboxylic acids and amine groups and the appearance of amide groups, which was determined by NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies. As the DA content increased to 30 wt% in the copolymers, the chain irregularity increased and the hydrogen bonding strength by amide groups decreased, indicating that the mechanical properties were toughed and softened, compared to those of the neat PA 11. In addition, water contact angle and absorption tests showed that the water resistance values of the PA 11 copolymers increased. These results afford a sustainable approach to improve the physical performances of PA 11 thermoplastic, such as toughening and hydrophobicity.

Enhanced toughness and water resistance of polyamide 11 copolymers with dimer acids derived from waste vegetable oil

2019 Fall National Meeting

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