Siloxane modification of polyamides

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Abstract
Polyamide–polydimethylsiloxane block copolymers were made by the BuLi or LiOSi(CH3)2OSi(CH3)2OLi catalysed polymerisation of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane terminated by and using this substituted siloxane to initiate the polymerisation of lauryllactam or caprolactam in toluene solvent in the presence of lithium aluminium hydride as the catalyst.One or 2% of the polycaprolactam‐polydimethylsiloxane block copolymers were mixed with nylon 6 and discs moulded. The presence of silicone in the surface was demonstrated by determining the critical surface tensions of wetting using ethanol–water mixtures as the contact‐angle test liquids. A polylauryllactam–polydimethylsiloxane block copolymer compatible with polyethylene was similarly studied.An important application for such composites is to provide a dry lubricated surface, therefore the kinetic coefficients of friction of steel against these copolymer‐treated nylon 6 samples were determined demonstrating at best a reduction to one third that of the untreated control.

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