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Overview of Nylon: Properties and Uses

Nylon is a synthetic polymer known as a polyamide that was first produced in 1935 by Wallace Carothers at DuPont. It is made by linking repeating units through peptide bonds and was the first commercially successful synthetic polymer. There are two common methods for making nylon fibers - one involves reacting molecules with acid and amine groups on each end to form monomers that then create long polymer chains. Nylon replaced silk in many applications during World War 2 like parachutes and tires after silk became scarce. It is used today in fabrics, ropes, gears and other mechanical parts.

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32 views2 pages

Overview of Nylon: Properties and Uses

Nylon is a synthetic polymer known as a polyamide that was first produced in 1935 by Wallace Carothers at DuPont. It is made by linking repeating units through peptide bonds and was the first commercially successful synthetic polymer. There are two common methods for making nylon fibers - one involves reacting molecules with acid and amine groups on each end to form monomers that then create long polymer chains. Nylon replaced silk in many applications during World War 2 like parachutes and tires after silk became scarce. It is used today in fabrics, ropes, gears and other mechanical parts.

Uploaded by

lieza_0726
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as

polyamides and first produced on February 28, 1935 by Wallace Carothers at DuPont.
Nylon is one of the most commonly used polymers.

Overview
Nylon is a thermoplastic silky material, first used commercially in a nylon-bristled
toothbrush (1938), followed more famously by women's stockings ("nylons"; 1940). It is
made of repeating units linked by peptide bonds (another name for amide bonds) and is
frequently referred to as polyamide (PA). Nylon was the first commercially successful
synthetic polymer. There are two common methods of making nylon for fiber
applications. In one approach, molecules with an acid (COOH) group on each end are
reacted with molecules containing amine (NH2) groups on each end. The resulting nylon
is named on the basis of the number of carbon atoms separating the two acid groups and
the two amines. These are formed into monomers of intermediate molecular weight,
which are then reacted to form long polymer chains.

Nylon was intended to be a synthetic replacement for silk and substituted for it in many
different products after silk became scarce during World War II. It replaced silk in
military applications such as parachutes and flak vests, and was used in many types of
vehicle tires.

Nylon fibers are used in many applications, including fabrics, bridal veils, carpets,
musical strings, and rope.

Solid nylon is used for mechanical parts such as machine screws, gears and other low- to
medium-stress components previously cast in metal. Engineering-grade nylon is
processed by extrusion, casting, and injection molding. Solid nylon is used in hair combs.
Type 6/6 Nylon 101 is the most common commercial grade of nylon, and Nylon 6 is the
most common commercial grade of molded nylon. Nylon is available in glass-filled
variants which increase structural and impact strength and rigidity, and molybdenum
sulfide-filled variants which increase lubricity.

Aramids are another type of polyamide with quite different chain structures which
include aromatic groups in the main chain. Such polymers make excellent ballistic fibres.

Characteristics

• Variation of luster: nylon has the ability to be very lustrous, semilustrous or dull.
• Durability: its high tenacity fibers are used for seatbelts, tire cords, ballistic cloth
and other uses.
• High elongation
• Excellent abrasion resistance
• Highly resilient (nylon fabrics are heat-set)
• Paved the way for easy-care garments
• High resistance to:
o insects, fungi and animals
o molds, mildew, rot
o many chemicals
• Used in carpets and nylon stockings
• Melts instead of burning
• Used in many military applications
• Good specific strength

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