CONTINUOUS POLYMERIZATION OF CAPROLACTAM IN A MODULAR INTERMESHING COROTATING TWIN-SCREW EXTRUDER INTEGRATED WITH CONTINUOUS MELT-SPINNING OF POLYAMIDE-6 FIBER - INFLUENCE OF SCREW DESIGN AND PROCESS CONDITIONS

The continuous anionic polymerization of caprolactam to polyamide-6 in a modular, intermeshing, corotating twin screw extruder was investigated. Caprolactam was polymerized by anionic polymerization techniques under a range of processing conditions, including different screw configurations, temperature profiles, screw speeds, and throughputs. Studies were also made of melt spinning polyamide 6 into oriented filaments. The polyamide-6 melt spun filaments were characterized using birefringence and wide angle X-ray diffraction. Uniaxial stress measurements of the fibers were obtained and are reported. The results for the melt spun filaments compare favorably with the previous literature. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.