New type of thermoplastic multiblock elastomers-poly(ester-block-amide)s-based on oligoamide 12 and oligoester prepared from dimerized fatty acid

Multiblock poly(ester-block-amide)s (PEA) elastomers comprising hard blocks of Oligoamide and Oligoester soft segments were prepared and their structure-property relations were analysed. The polycondensation reaction of oligoesters (prepared from 1,4-butanediol and dimerized fatty acid) with oligolaurolactam (PA 12) gave copolymer series with variable blocks content (the soft segments content was varied from 24 to 60 wt.%). PEAs are the phase system composed of crystallised sequences of oligoamide (hard segment phase) as well as oligoesters (soft segment phase). Mixing between the hard and soft phases was studied by thermal and mechanical measurements (DSC, DMTA). These results have indicated on a multiphase structure of investigated materials. The relationship between the observed thermal and tensile properties and the soft/hard segments content indicated on an increase of the phase separation with soft segments content. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.