Aliphatic Segmented Poly(ether ester amide)s Synthesized from Hexanediamine, Sebacic Acid and Poly(ethylene glycol)s

High molecular weight aliphatic segmented poly(ether ester amide)s(PEEAs) were synthesized via melt polycondensation and chain extension. An oligomeric polyamide(PA) terminated mainly with -COOH groups(HOOC-PA-COOH) was prepared from the reaction of nylon 610 salt with sebacic acid. Melt polycondensation of HOOC-PA-COOH with polyethylene glycol(PEG), such as PEG400, PEG600, PEG1000 and PEG1500, was conducted at 200 degrees C, and several segmented PEEA prepolymers(PrePEEAs) were prepared. Chain extension of PrePEEAs was carried out at 190 degrees C using 2,2'-(1,4-phenylene)-bis(2-oxazoline) and adipoyl biscaprolactamate as combination chain extenders. Chain extended PEEAs(ExtPEEAs) were characterized by gel permeation chromatography( GPC), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer(FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance(H-1 NMR), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), wide angle X-ray scattering(WAXS), thermogravimetry analysis(TGA), and tensile test. The ExtPEEAs exhibited M-n up to 98700, T-m from 164.2 degrees C to 176.1 degrees C, initial decomposition temperature above 320.6 degrees C, tensile strength up to 34.80 MPa, and strain at break from 111.92% to 353.12%. Aliphatic segmented PEEAs with good thermal and mechanical properties were prepared.