Synthesis and Structure Properties of Flame Retardant and Cationic Dyeable Polyamide 6 Modified with 5-sulfoisophthalic Acid Sodium and Melamine Cyanurate

Unmodified polyamide 6 commonly dyed with acid dyes, and has no flame-retarded properties. So they are flammable and can be easily stained by foods or drinks that contain acid dyes. However, the acid groups react with amino groups that existed at the end of PA6 chain while using cationic dyes. Thus, the acid dyes can be washed immediately. In this study, the flame retardant and cationic dyeable polyamide 6 (FRCD-PA6) modified with 5-sulfoisophthalic acid sodium (5-SSIPA) and melamine cyanurate (MCA) was successfully prepared by the two-step-melt polymerization method. Firstly, cationic dyeable polyamide 6 (CD-PA6) was prepared with sodium salt from 5-sulfoisphthalic acid. Secondly, melamine cyanurate, as an efficient flame retardant, was blended into the reaction. The chemical and crystalline structures of FRCDPA6 were characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD). Their thermal properties were tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and morphology was analyzed by SEM, respectively. It had been measured to prove the dispersion of 5-SSIPA and MCA on polyamide 6 matrix. Incorporating with 5-SSIPA created more amorphous regions and rose up the dyeing rate easily, with a highest dyeing rate for about 96.79 %. The effect of varying MCA content on the composites showed more flame retardant and made better heat-resistance. Moreover, with the appropriate addition of MCA content, the limit oxygen index (LOI) reached up to 27, less smoking, no more black smoke, droplet phenomenon was slightly, and flame resistance had greatly improved. Because of the good synergy between 5-SSIPA and MCA, a kind of novel modified polyamide 6 which own both cationic dyeable and efficient flame retardant properties was born.