Patent ID: 6248861
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: C08G,C08J

Abstract:
A process for the manufacture of a branched aliphatic polyamide comprising the steps of:(a) feeding an admixture of aliphatic dinitrile, aliphatic diamine and water to a reactor, wherein the amount of water is at least the stoichiometric amount required to convert the dinitrile and diamine to polyamide and wherein at least one of said dinitrile and said diamine is branched;(b) heating the admixture in the reactor to a temperature of at least about 270.degree. C. under a pressure of at least about 1.2 MPa in the presence of a catalyst with the incremental addition of water;(c) venting water, ammonia and other volatile matter from the reactor while maintaining said temperature and pressure for a period of time of at least about 30 minutes;(d) maintaining said temperature for a further period of time while reducing the pressure in the reactor to at least atmospheric pressure; and(e) discharging the polyamide so formed from the reactor.