Nylon
File:Surgeon's knot.jpg A knot, on a rope, made of Nylon | |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.15 g/cm3 |
| Electrical conductivity (σ) | 10−12 S/m |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.25 W/(m·K) |
| Melting point | 463–624 K 190–350 °C 374–663 °F |
Nylon is a type of synthetic fiber. It is one of the most commonly used polyamides, and was first used on February 28, 1935.[1]
Nylon makes a silky material which was first used in toothbrushes. It is strong, hard and water resistant. It is used to make clothes. In fact, polyamides are mostly used for synthetic fibres in clothing. Nylon can also be used to make other materials, such as parachutes, ropes, string for tyres, carpets, fishing nets and cloth and socks.
Nylon was invented by Wallace Carothers at Du-Pont.[2][3]
Types of nylon
There are many different types of nylon, made from different ingredients in different ways. The two main types of nylon are homopolymer nylon, made from a single chemical, and heteropolymer nylon, made from more than one chemical.
Nylons are numbered based on the number of carbon atoms in their ingredients. A small number usually means a homopolymer, while a larger number or two numbers with a separator (such as a slash or comma) usually means a heteropolymer.
The two most common types of nylon are nylon 6 (a homopolymer made from caprolactam, with 6 carbon) and nylon 66 (a heteropolymer made from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, with 6 carbon each). These two molecules are very similar in structure, with the only difference being how the amide groups are arranged: in nylon 6, all C(=O)–N bonds are in the same direction, while they alternate in nylon 66.
Nylon Media
- Nylon 6 and Nylon 6-6.svg
Comparison of the chemical structures of Nylon-6 (top) and Nylon-6,6 (bottom)
- Wallace Carothers, in the lab.jpg
Picture of Wallace Carothers
Close-up photograph of the knitted nylon fabric used in stockings
Nylon fibers visualized using scanning electron microscopy
Condensation polymerization diacid diamine
- Amide hydrolysis.svg
The general chemical reaction involving hydrolysis of an amide to form a carboxylic acid and an amine
- Nylon-3D-h bond.png
Hydrogen bonding in Nylon 66 (in mauve)
- The worn out nylon stockings in this barrel full of salvaged stockings will be reprocessed and made into parachutes... - NARA - 196427.jpg
These worn out nylon stockings will be reprocessed and made into parachutes for army fliers c. 1942
- Blue nylon ball gown 2007.154.jpg
Blue nylon fabric ball gown by Emma Domb, Science History Institute
References
- ↑ Palmer R.J. 2001. Polyamides, plastics. In Encyclopedia of Popolymer science and technology.
- ↑ American Chemical Society National Historic Chemical Landmarks. "Foundations of Polymer Science: Wallace Hume Carothers and the Development of Nylon". ACS Chemistry for Life. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ↑ "Wallace Hume Carothers". Science History Institute. June 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2018.