POLYMERIZATION OF REACTIVE FLUOROALIPHATIC DIAMINES WITH SEBACOYL CHLORIDE TO GIVE FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC POLYAMIDES (NYLONS)

Both aminoacylated fluoroaliphatic diamines ('reactive' diamines) [H2N(CH2)3-C(=O)NHCH2CH2(CF2)nCH2CH2NHC(=O)(CH2)3NH2; n=4,81 and their tetrahydrobromide salts have been polymerized interfacially with sebacoyl chloride to give fluoroaliphatic polyamides. The polymers have been characterized by solution viscometry, DSC, TGA, water contact angle measurements, equilibrium water absorption and solubility, and compared to Nylon 6,10. The effects of using free diamine versus diamine salt as the monomer and of amount of fluorine in the monomer on polymer molecular weight are discussed. Also, the synthesis of the tetrahydrobromide salts is included since previous preliminary reports had identified the products as dihydrobromide salts.