Hydantoin polyamide-poly(oxyethylene) block copolymers as antistatic additives for polyamides

Claim 1

An antistatic yarn polymer additive composition consisting essentially of a hydantoin polyamide-poly(oxyethylene) block copolymer comprising the reaction product of a hydroxyterminated poly(oxyethylene) having a number average molecular weight of about 200 to about 4000, with a prepolymer comprising the reaction product of a first compound having the structural formula: ##STR15## wherein R 1 and R 2 are alkyl groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and P is COOH or CH 2 NH 2 , with a second compound from the group consisting of piperazine or a compound having the following structural formula: Q -- R.sub.5 -- Q where if the second compound is piperazine, P is COOH; and if the second compound is Q--R 5 --Q, when P is COOH, Q may be NH 2 or CH 2 NH 2 , when Q is NH 2 ,R 5 can be a straight chain alkylene radical of 3 to 12 carbon atoms, a branched chain alkylene radical of up to 36 carbon atoms, an alicyclic radical or a radical having the following structural formula: ##STR16## where R 3 and R 4 are alkyl groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and when Q is CH 2 NH 2 , R 5 can be of the above or an aromatic radical; and when P is NH 2 or CH 2 NH 2 , Q is COOH, and R 5 is selected from the group consisting of a straight chain alkylene radical of 2 to 12 carbon atoms, a branched chain alkylene radical of up to 36 carbon atoms, an aromatic radical and a radical having the structural formula III above.