Nylon is a synthetic polymer family with amide backbones that revolutionized the textile and materials industry.
Development and Early History
Wallace Hume Carothers at DuPont created the first nylon (nylon 66) on February 28, 1935. The breakthrough came after 11 years of polymer research, culminating in a material that combined strength with flexibility. The first commercial application emerged in 1938 with nylon-bristled toothbrushes, followed by the iconic “nylons” (stockings) at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
Wartime Transformation
During World War II, nylon production shifted entirely to military applications. The material proved crucial for:
- Parachutes
- Tents
- Ropes
- Military gear
- Tire reinforcement
Chemical Properties and Structure
Nylon exists as a thermoplastic material with these key characteristics:
- Density: 1.15 g/cm³
- Melting point: 190-350°C
- Electrical conductivity: 10⁻¹² S/m
- Thermal conductivity: 0.25 W/(m·K)
Molecular Architecture
The polymer consists of repeating amide units (-CO-NH-) that form strong hydrogen bonds between adjacent strands. This regular molecular structure enables high crystallinity, giving nylon its remarkable fiber-forming properties.
Commercial Impact
DuPont’s marketing strategy positioned nylon as a revolutionary synthetic material. In its first year of commercial availability, manufacturers sold 64 million pairs of nylon stockings. The material’s versatility led to its adoption in:
- Automotive parts
- Consumer goods
- Industrial equipment
- Clothing and textiles
- Food packaging
Environmental Considerations
Nylon production carries a carbon footprint of 5.43 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg in European manufacturing. The material takes 30-40 years to decompose, contributing to ocean debris through discarded fishing nets. However, recycling initiatives by companies like Patagonia and Aquafil demonstrate viable paths for nylon reuse.
Modern Applications
Today’s nylon appears in diverse forms:
- Carpet fibers
- Tire cord
- Engine components
- 3D printing filaments
- Guitar strings
- Food packaging films
The material continues to evolve through blending with other polymers and the development of specialized variants for specific industrial needs.
Citations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon
This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (September 2023) |
 Nylon 6,6  | |
|---|---|
| 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 family of synthetic polymers with amide backbones, usually linking aliphatic or semi-aromatic groups.
Nylons are white or colorless and soft; some are silk-like. They are thermoplastic, which means that they can be melt-processed into fibers, films, and diverse shapes. The properties of nylons are often modified by blending with a wide variety of additives.
Many kinds of nylon are known. One family, designated nylon-XY, is derived from diamines and dicarboxylic acids of carbon chain lengths X and Y, respectively. An important example is nylon-6,6 (C₁₂H₂₂N₂O₂). Another family, designated nylon-Z, is derived from aminocarboxylic acids with carbon chain length Z. An example is nylon-[6].
Nylon polymers have significant commercial applications in fabric and fibers (apparel, flooring and rubber reinforcement), in shapes (molded parts for cars, electrical equipment, etc.), and in films (mostly for food packaging).
English
Etymology
Arbitrary letters + -on (by analogy with cotton); the widespread claim that the word derives from abbreviations of
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