High Molecular Weight Polyamides and CoPolyamides with Uniform RV and Low Gel Content

Abstract

A customizable polyamide polymer, in particular Nylon 66, Nylon 6, and copolyamides, having a high molecular weight, excellent color, and low gel content is disclosed. In particular, disclosed is a polymer having a relative viscosity greater than 50 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution; consistent viscosity with a standard deviation of less than 1; a gel content no greater than 50 ppm as measured by insolubles larger than 10 micron; an optical defect content of less than 2,000 parts per million (ppm) as measured by optical control system (OCS). The polymer can be made into monofilaments or a multifilament yarn.

1 . A high molecular weight Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer, wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by a precision Relative Viscosity greater than 60 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution, wherein the precision Relative Viscosity has an RV Standard Deviation of less than or equal to 1.0 and a Gel content Parameter of less than 10 ppm as determined by parts per million insolubles larger than 10 microns in 90% formic acid at 25° C. 
     
     
         2 . The Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by a precision Relative Viscosity greater than 70 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         3 . The Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by a precision Relative Viscosity greater than 80 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         4 . The Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by a precision Relative Viscosity of greater than 80 and up to 97.5 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         5 . The Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the Relative Viscosity is in the range of from greater than 60 to 200 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         6 . The Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the Relative Viscosity is in the range of from 75 to 100 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         7 . The Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polyamide polymer is characterized by an Average Optical Defect Level of less than 2,000 parts per million (ppm) as measured by optical scanning of pellets. 
     
     
         8 . The Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer of  claim 7 , wherein the Relative Viscosity is in the range of from 75 to 100 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         9 . A monofilament or multifilament yarn made from a high molecular weight Nylon 6,6 polyamide polymer, wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by a precision Relative Viscosity greater than 60 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution, wherein the precision Relative Viscosity has an RV Standard Deviation of less than or equal to 1.0 and a Gel content Parameter of less than 10 ppm as determined by parts per million insolubles larger than 10 microns in 90% formic acid at 25° C. 
     
     
         10 . The monofilament or multifilament yarn according to  claim 9 , in the form of a multifilament yarn having a tenacity of greater than 9 g/d and an elongation greater than 18%. 
     
     
         11 . The monofilament or multifilament yarn according to  claim 9 , wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by a precision Relative Viscosity greater than 70 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         12 . The monofilament or multifilament yarn according to  claim 9 , wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by a precision Relative Viscosity greater than 80 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         13 . The monofilament or multifilament yarn according to  claim 9 , wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by a precision Relative Viscosity of greater than 80 and up to 97.5 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         14 . The monofilament or multifilament yarn according to  claim 9 , wherein the Relative Viscosity of the Nylon 6,6 polymer is in the range of from greater than 60 to 200 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         15 . The monofilament or multifilament yarn according to  claim 9 , wherein the Relative Viscosity of the Nylon 6,6 polymer is in the range of from 75 to 100 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution. 
     
     
         16 . The monofilament or multifilament yarn according to  claim 9 , wherein the Nylon 6,6 polymer is characterized by an Average Optical Defect Level of less than 2,000 parts per million (ppm) as measured by optical scanning of pellets.