Novel Reaction Kinetic Model for Anionic Polyamide‐6

Abstract

Semi-adiabatic temperature measurements are recorded and used to define semi-empirical equations for the simulation and prediction of the anionic polyamide-6 (APA-6) reaction kinetics. The resin mixture used has a long infusion window before the reaction starts. The prediction of the induction time and its corresponding initial temperature of reaction is explored. By means of this semi-empirical approach and an optimised fitting procedure, the reaction kinetics of APA-6 can successfully be described. The adiabatic polymerisation can be predicted on the basis of an autocatalytic Kamal-Sourour model for thermoset resins, and the crystallisation can be described using the isothermal crystallisation model.