We report on plant oil-based linear aliphatic polyamides
from 1.19-nonadecanedioic
acid and aliphatic diamines of different chain lengths. Their thermal,
mechanical, and rheological properties as well as the water uptake
and crystalline structures were analyzed. The polyamides were synthesized
with high molecular weights of 26 000 to 52 000. All polyamides showed
high thermal stability with T
5% of >400
°C as well as high crystallinities of ∼50%. Injection
molding of the plant-oil-based polyamides was successfully performed
to produce tensile test specimens. Chemical recycling of the polyamides
was demonstrated by microwave-assisted hydrolysis, with a recovery
of 99% for 1.19-nonadecanedioic acid. Melt polycondensation using
the recovered monomer was successfully performed to synthesize recycled
polyamide in similar quality, which underlines its potential for closed
loop recycling.