Polyamide-polyether block copolymer

Abstract

Copolymers having linked internal polyether blocks and internal polyamide blocks have advantageous physical properties and solvent-gelling abilities. The copolymer may be prepared from a reaction mixture that contains 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) and poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA). Optionally, the reaction mixture contains no monofunctional compound reactive with either amine or carboxylic acid groups, however some of this monofunctional compound may be present. Dimer diamine and/or dimer acid may be present in the reaction mixture. A copolymer may also be prepared from a reaction mixture containing dimer acid and at least two diamine compound(s) including PAODA and short-chain aliphatic diamine having 2-6 carbons (SDA), wherein: a) the reaction mixture comprises x grams of PAODA and y grams of SDA, and x/(x+y) is 0.8-0.98; b) the reaction mixture weighs z grams, and x/z is at least 0.25; and c) the reaction mixture contains either no co-diacid, or comprises a small amount of co-diacid, wherein, if the reaction mixture comprises a small amount of co-diacid, then acid equivalents from co-diacid contribute less than 25% of the total acid equivalents present in the reaction mixture.

1 - 47 . (canceled)  
     
     
         48 . A polyamide-polyether block copolymer having a softening point between 60 and 180° C. formed from a reaction mixture comprising one or more diacid compound(s) comprising 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA), and one or more diamine compound(s) comprising poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA), the reaction mixture containing no monofunctional compound reactive with either amine or carboxylic acid groups; 
 wherein CHDA provides at least 45% of the acid equivalents attributed to diacid compound(s), polymerized fatty acid is present in the reaction in an amount required to provide less than 25% of the equivalents of acid groups attributed to the diacid compound(s), and PAODA provides at least 5% of the amine equivalents attributed to the diamine compound(s).