Preparation and Characterization of Nylon 6-Morpholinone Random Copolymers Based on ε-Caprolactam and Morpholinone

Bio-based nylon 6-morpholinone random copolymers were prepared by the anionic ring opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactam and morpholinone, both of which were prepared from lysine and glucose, respectively. From this work, a new biomass based nylon 6 with improved hydrophilicity was prepared. Optimizing the polymerization condition, copolymer with a viscosity-average molecular weight of 30000 g/mol was prepared, with a yield of 80%. It was possible to improve the hydrophilicity of nylon 6 by its copolymerization with morpholinone. The prepared nylon 6-morpholinone random copolymers were then characterized using several analytical methods such as DSC, TGA, XRD, viscosity measurement with U-shaped glass capillary viscometer and contact angle measurement.