NONREACTIVE POLYAMIDES FROM C36 DIMER ACIDS - PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES

Non-reactive polyamides were prepared by reacting a mixture comprising polymeric fatty acids, diamines such as ethylenediamine and hexamethylenediamine and an aliphatic monobasic acid or amine, to obtain a product of the desired extent of reaction, degree of polymerization, number average molecular weight. viscosity and softening point. The polymeric fatty acids used were of four types: imported acids: 97/3, 83/17 and 75/25 dimer/trimer mixtures, Empol 1010, 1018 and 1024 respectively and indigenous dimer acids. The indigenous acids were prepared in the authors' institute and comprised mixtures of monomer, dimer and trimer acids. In all the polyamides prepared, the extent of reaction was approximately 96%, the degree of polymerization ranged from 5-14, the number average molecular weight ranged from 1423-11 848, the viscosity of 35% solution in butanol/toluene 1:1, v/v, 19-147 s at 25-degrees-C (Ford Cup No. 4) and the softening point was 94.5-115-degrees-C. Most of these polyamides have properties comparable to the commercially available polyamides used in flexographic inks, adhesives and over-print varnishes.