The present invention regards polyamide resins with improved rheological characteristics.

The polyamides as poly - e - caprolactam and polyhexamethylene adipamide are resins which have found wide application in many sectors. In general they combine high strength and rigidity with good resistance to heat and abrasion. They are also characterized by resistance to chemical agents and flame.

The resins do not present however satisfying rheological properties, such as to allow their application in fields which request high dynamic viscosity of melt in the absence of shear forces, and lower viscosity when subjected to these forces.

Due to this low sensitivity to shear forces (shear sensitivity) the polyamide resins are not processable for example by extrusion blow moulding processes.

In a previous patent application not yet published, have been described alloys of polyester resins with polyamide resins, obtained by mixing the resins in melt state in the presence of a dianhydride of tetracarboxylic acid, preferably pyromellitic dianhydride, and subjecting the mixture to a polyaddition reaction in the solid state. The alloys obtained possess excellent mechanical characteristics. The content of polyamide resin is not more than 60% by weight. Essentially the alloys are formed of polyester resin modified with minor proportions of polyamide resin.

In USP 5 254 620 polyamide resins are known, modified with minor percentage (0.5-5% by weight) of an elastomeric polyester resin obtained from high molecular weight polyoxyalkylene glycols, from low molecular weight glycols and from aromatic bicarboxylic acids.

The addition of the elastomeric polyester resin improves the flow characteristics

of polyamide, and also the flame resistance.

From European patent application A 143 875, polyester resins are known with improved impact resistance characteristics, obtained by mixing the polyester resin with a polyamide-ester resin in quantity of 3 to 40% in weight and subjecting the mixture to heating at temperature from 15° to 60°C lower than melting point of the polyester.

In the Japanese patent application 1272660 there are described compositions of polyamide resins and polyester resins in quantities respectively from 5 to 95% by weight, containing a dianhydride of tetracarboxylic acid, preferably pyromellitic anhydride or the anhydride of 3,3', 4,4'-biphenyl-tetracarboxylic acid. The compositions are characterised by low absorption of water, and good mechanical properties.

In the Japanese patent application 46/035 377 there are described blends of polyamide resin and polyester obtained by reaction of a polyamide resin, having both carboxylic terminal groups. The mixtures are suitable for the preparation of fibres.

Unexpectedly it has now been found that it is possible to obtain modified polyamide resins having improved rheological properties in the melt state (higher dynamic viscosity and viscoelasticity) by subjecting to a solid state polycondensation for polyaddition treatment, at temperatures lower than resin melting point and higher than approx. 150°C, a mixture of the resin with a substance selected among:

a) a polyfunctional compound with groups capable of condensing or addition reaction with the NH ₂ terminal groups of the polyamide resin

b) a polyester resin in quantity up to about 40% in weight of the polyester and polyamide resin mixture.

The treatment in the solid state is prolonged until the shear sensitivity index of resin is increased by at least 3 times in respect to value of the starting resin.

By shear sensitivity (Is) is meant the difference, divided by 100 rad/sec, between the dynamic viscosities in the melt (η' expressed in poises) measured with a flat- cone rheometer RHEOMETRICS RMS 800 respectively with a deformation fre¬ quence of 1-100 rad/sec and with deformation of 0.04 rad for each oscillation, operating at 270°C under nitrogen and employing distance between plate and cone of 50 micron.

The index value is approx. 100 poises per rad sec in the case of nylon 6, while it is higher than at least 300 poises per rad/sec, and can reach values as high as 600- 800 and more poises per rad/sec in the case of polyamides of this invention.

Another rheological property characteristic of a melted polymer is the elastic component G' (expressed in dine/cm ² ) which in the case of polyamide resins of the invention arrives at values more than twice higher than those of the starting resin.

In the case of elastic component G' of nylon 6 modified according to the invention, the difference, divided by 100 rad/sec, between the value of G', measured under the conditions indicated above for the melt viscosity, in correspondence of a deforma¬ tion frequency, respectively 1 and 100 rad/sec, is at least 5000 and can reach 10 000 and more dine/cm ² per rad/sec; in the case instead of nylon 6 as such the difference is lower than about 2500 dine/cm ² per rad/sec.

This difference can be considered as an index (Iv) of the melt viscoelasticity response to the shear deformations.

The thermal treatment of the resin in the solid state is carried out preferably in continuous operation reactors in which the resin in granules is fed upstream with an inert gas such as nitrogen, carbonic anhydride. The temperature is preferably

selected between 170 and 210°C. The residence time is in relation to the desired increase in rheological properties.

The polyamides utilizable in the process of the invention are the product of poly- condensation of a saturated bicarboxyhc acid with 4 or 12 atoms of carbon with a diamine with 4-14 carbon atoms or polycondensation of an amino acid or poly- addition of a lactam.

Examples of polyamides are polyhexamethylene adipamide, polyhexamethylene aze- laidamide, polyhexamethylene sebacamide, polyhexamethylene dodecamide, poly- tetramethylene adipamide and the polyamides obtained from ring opening of lactams such as polycaprolactam and polylaurolactam.

Particular preference is given to nylon 6, nylon 6,6, nylon 8, nylon 11 and nylon 12.

Included in the definition of polyamide resins are also the high melting point poly¬ amides, such as copolyamides of e - caprolactam, hexamethylene m ^' amine and terephthalic acid or tetramethylene diamine with adipic acid.

The polyamides have in general average ponderal molecular weight above 10 000 and comprised in general between 20 000 and 60 000.

The polyester resins utilized are comprised of the polycondensation products of a diol with 2-12 carbon atoms with an aromatic bicarboxyhc acid such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 1,5 or 2,6 or either 2,7 naphthalene bicarboxyhc acids and mixtures thereof. Included in the definition are also elastomeric copolyesters comprising in the chain blocks deriving from polyalkylene glycols with molecular weight between 400 and 4000 and blocks deriving from diols with molecular weight lower than 250.

The molecular weights herein cited are average numeral molecular weights.

Polyester resins composed of polycondensation product of a diol with 2.-12 carbon atoms with an aliphatic bicarboxyhc acid such as adipic, suberic, and glutaric acids are also utilizable.

The preferred polyester resins are polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene tereph¬ thalate, polyethylene naphthalenates, polyethylene terephthalate copolymers in which up to approx. 25% of the units deriving from terephthalic acid are sub¬ stituted by units deriving from isophthalic acid.

The intrinsic viscosity is preferably higher than 0.5 dl g and in general comprised between 0.6 and 1.8 dl/g (the viscosity is measured in a solution of 60/40 by weight of phenol and tetrachloroethane operating according to ASTM D-4603-86).

The polyester resins are terminated with OH and COOH groups.

As already indicated, the polyester resin is employed in quantities up to about 40% by weight of the mixture, preferably in quantities from 5 to 20% by weight.

The polyfunctional compounds are selected in preference from the dianhydrides of aromatic tetracarboxylic acids.

Pyromellitic dianhydride is the preferred compound.

Examples of other utilizable dianhydrides are the dianhydrides of acids 3,3' 4,4' tetracarboxy-diphenyl, bis (3,4-dicarboxy-phenyl) ether 3,3' 4,4'-tetracarboxy-aceto- phenone, bis (3,4 dicarboxy-phenyl) sulphoxide, bisphenol A bis ether dianhydride.

Other polyfunctional compounds particularly suitable are the 1,3-phenylene bis 2- oxazoline and its alkyl derivatives substituted in the benzene ring.

The polyfunctional compounds are employed in quantities from 0.05 to 2% by

weight, preferably from 0.2 to 1% by weight.

The mixing of the polyamide resin with the polyfunctional compound or with the polyester resin is carried out in preference in twin screw co-rotating or counter- rotating intermeshing or non-intermeshing extruders at temperatures between about 200° and 350°C depending on the polyamide resin melting point.

Counter rotating and intermeshing extruders are preferred.

Residence times in the extruder range in general from 10 to 120 sec. preferably 15- 30 sec.

In order to avoid concentrations localized of the additive it is convenient to dilute the additive with a granulated polyester resin (for example one part additive for 10 parts resin).

As already indicated, the polyamide resins of the invention, thanks to their favourable rheological properties in the melt state, in particular thanks to their high sensitivity to shear forces, and viscoelastic properties, are particularly suitable for extrusion blow moulding, for the preparation of foamed materials, tubular film and similarly shaped articles.

The resins also possess excellent mechanical properties which make them adap¬ table to applications as technopolymers and to the preparation of fibres and films.

The resins can contain the additives normally employed in the sector such as stabilizers, UV absorbers, dyestuff and pigments, mould releasing agents, rein¬ forcing fillers, nucleating agents, plasticisers.

The following examples are given to illustrate the invention and are not limiting.

Example 1

2 Kg/h of nylon 6 with melting point 223°C are continuously fed to a conic twin screw counter-rotating extruder of length 340 mm equipped with a device for degasing.

Oxazoline (1,3-phenylene - bis 2-oxazoline) in powder is fed continuously to the extruder employing appropriate dosing equipment.

The mixing conditions are the following: oxazoline = 0.5% by weight average residence time = 18-23 sec. cylinder temperature = 260°C melt temperature = 265°C.

A one-hone mould is employed for extrusion (diameter of the hole = 2 mm). The "spaghetto" obtained is cooled in water and palletized.

Part of the granules are then treated at 190°C under nitrogen for 6 hours in a stirred reactor.

Samples of the resin thus obtained are subjected to determination of dynamic viscosity of melt and elastic component G' using a flat cone rheometer, Rheometrics RMS 800 operating at 250°C under nitrogen at deformation interval frequence of 1 to 100 rad/sec and deformation of 0.04 rad for each oscillation. Distance between plate and cone is 50 micron.

The samples were dried at 100°-105°C under vacuum for at least 12 hours before measurement.

Measurements were carried out also on samples not subjected to thermal

treatment.

Values for complex viscosity and elastic component G' are reported in Table 1.

In Table 1 are also reported the mechanical properties determined on a cast film using instrument INSTRON tensile tester (mod. 4505) operating according to ASTM D-882 for the tensile strength and determining the elastic modulus from the initial slope of stress-strain curve.

Example 2

The conditions of Example 1 have been repeated employing polyethylene tereph¬ thalate (PET) in granules with intrinsic viscosity = 0.63 dl/g in quantity 10% by weight on the mixture, in place of oxazoline. The temperature of the cylinder was 170°C and that of the melt 280°C.

The PET used was obtained from terephthalic acid employing antimony oxide as catalyst; no cobalt compounds and no trasesterification catalyst were employed.

The rheological measurements were carried out at 270°C; the results were reported in Table 1 where mechanical properties of a cast film are also reported.

Example 3

The conditions of Example 2 were repeated employing the PET of example 2 mixed with 0.3% by weight of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA).

The quantity of PET/PMDA was 10% by weight on the mixture.

The temperature of the cylinder was 270°C and that of the melt 280°C.

The rheological measurement results carried out at 270°C and the mechanical property data are reported in Table 1 where are also reported data relative to measurements of Nylon 6.

TABLE 1

SarriDles Examples Nvxon b

Granules before thermal treatment

Viscosity n' (P) ω = 1 rad/sec 22 300 13 000 16 100 8 500 100 rad/sec 9 900 5 750 5 500 5 500

Modulus G' (dine/cm ω = 1 rad/sec 1 700 1 300 1 900 1990 100 rad/sec 541 000 274 000 316 000 203450

Granules after thermal treatment

Viscosity n' (P)

(i) = 1 rad/sec 51 500 82 000 65 750 17 300

100 rad/sec 13 400 12 600 10 700 8 050

Modulus G' (dine/cm ⁵ ) ti) = 1 rad/sec q 800 36 150 23 100 1500

100 rad/sec 982 900 1 092 000 888 150 397 000

Film before thermal treatment

Modulus (MPa) 864 817 721 Extensibility (%) 300 287 232 Tensile strenght (MPa) 73 73 52

Film after thermal treatment

Modulus (MPa) 997 1033 1082 806 Extensibility (%) 275 271 208 1252 Tensile strenght (MPa) 69 81 83 71