The polymerizability of a number of lactams to polyamides was determined. n'heii combined with literature data, these studies showed that:(1) Water and alkali metal catalysts were equally potent at temperatures above 200"(2) Rings with 8 or 9 members polymerized in all cases studied. About half of those with 7 atoms polymerized, while 6-or 5-membered rings failed to polymerize except in the case of pyrrolidone.(3) Alkyl or aryl substituents on the ...
