Polyamide Melt Stiffness via Carbonate Condensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional polyamide processing methods result in low melt stiffness, leading to difficulties in producing large geometries with uniform wall thickness and stable extrusion, due to low viscosity and high motor load requirements, which restricts economic production of complex shapes and dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A process involving a mixture of polyamide molding composition and a compound with at least two carbonate units, where condensation occurs during processing, achieving high melt stiffness and reduced motor load, allowing for the production of large hollow bodies with precise dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the molecular weight of polyamide is increased to achieve high melt stiffness, then the melt stiffness increases, but the reaction time and residence time required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelt stiffnessVSAvoidreaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The polyamide is pre-synthesized with terminal functional groups (amino, carboxyl, or hydroxyl groups) that are prepared in advance for subsequent condensation reaction. This preliminary preparation allows the high molecular weight polyamide to be ready for rapid condensation with carbonate compounds during processing, avoiding long reaction times while achieving the desired melt stiffness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the polyamide by introducing terminal functional groups and using carbonate compounds with specific molecular weights (500-50,000). This parameter change enables controlled condensation reactions that increase melt stiffness without requiring extended reaction times, as the reaction conditions are optimized for rapid molecular weight adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the molecular weight of polyamide is increased to achieve high melt stiffness, then the melt stiffness increases, but additional process costs are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelt stiffnessVSAvoidprocess costs
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the molecular weight parameter of carbonate compounds to be between 500 and 50,000, which provides the best balance between achieving high melt stiffness and maintaining cost-effectiveness. This parameter optimization allows standard extrusion equipment to be used without requiring expensive high-performance machines, thereby reducing overall process costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of synthesizing ultra-high molecular weight polyamides that would require expensive specialized equipment and extended processing, the invention uses partial condensation with carbonate compounds to achieve the necessary melt stiffness. This partial action approach is more economical than complete high molecular weight synthesis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional polyamide with low melt stiffness is used, then the extrusion process can be carried out with standard equipment, but the production of large geometries with uniform wall thickness is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextrusion processabilityVSAvoidwall thickness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention specifically addresses the extrusion of hollow bodies and profiles with curved geometries. The condensed polyamide composition with high melt stiffness enables these curved and complex geometries to be produced with uniform wall thickness, as the material maintains its shape better during extrusion and is less sensitive to gravitational effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the rheological parameters of the polyamide by controlling the molecular weight of carbonate compounds (500-50,000) and their concentration (0.01-10% by weight). This parameter change optimizes the balance between melt stiffness for shape stability and viscosity for extrusion flowability, enabling precise production of large geometries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Strength

If polyamide with high melt stiffness is used, then large geometries can be produced with stable extrusion, but extraordinarily high differential pressure is required in the machine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelt stiffnessVSAvoiddifferential pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the molecular weight parameter of carbonate compounds to be between 500 and 50,000, which provides the ideal balance between achieving high melt stiffness and maintaining acceptable viscosity. This parameter optimization ensures that standard extrusion machines can operate within normal pressure ranges while still producing the desired high melt stiffness for stable extrusion of large geometries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The process significantly increases melt stiffness, enabling high throughput and economic production of large geometries with improved extrudate quality and reduced motor load, overcoming limitations of conventional polyamide processing.

Implementation Method 1

condensing-up of a polyamide molding composition by means of a compound having at least two carbonate units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation reaction: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS8580899B2Process for producing moldings with an increase in the melt stiffness
Publication Date: 2013.11.12 EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A process for producing moldings with condensing-up of a polyamide molding composition by means of a compound having at least two carbonate units, whereina) a polyamide molding composition is made available,b) a mixture of the polyamide molding composition and the compound having at least two carbonate units is prepared,c) the mixture is, if appropriate, stored and/or transported andd) the mixture is subsequently processed to produce the molding, with the condensing-up occurring only in this step,and the molding is a hollow body or hollow profile having an external diameter of at least 30 mm and a wall thickness of at least 1 mm,effects a significant increase in the melt stiffness combined with moderate processing presssures, which considerably simplifies the production of these moldings.