Nylon 6
Description
Nylon 6 is made by polymerizing caprolactam under pressure. Nylon 6 was first sold as Perlon L in 1939 by I.G.Farbenindustrie. It was produced during W.W.II for parachutes. Nylon 6 is very similar to 6,6 nylon 6,6 except that it has a greater affinity for dyes and has a lower melting point. Its thermoplastic fibers are strong, tough, elastic and have high gloss. They are extruded through a spinneret with a circular cross section. Nylon monofilaments are used for brushes, surgical sutures, tennis strings, and fishing lines. Nylon 6 is also used for heat-seal films because it has low water vapor transmission rates. Cellular nylon foam is made from nylon 6 for lightweight buoys and flotation products.
See also fiber nylon fiber.
Synonyms and Related Terms
polycaprolactam; Perlon [I.G.Farbenindustrie]; Caprolan [Honeywell]; Kapron; Silon; Dederon; Danamid; Nivion; Enka; Hydrofil [Honeywell]; Powersilk [BASF]; Dorlon (later called Bayer-Perlon) [Bayer]; Bobingen (later called Hoescht-Perlon) [Hoescht]
Other Properties
Resistant to alkalis and most organic solvents. Degraded by concentrated acids and phenol. Burns with yellow-orange flame and blue smoke; smells of burnt horn. Fiber is smooth. Cross section is circular. Tenacity = 3.8-8.3 g/denier (dry); 3.5-7.1 (wet); Elongation = 16-50% (dry); 19-55 % (wet); Moisture regain = 3.5-5.0% (dry)
| Composition | (C6H11NO)n |
|---|---|
| CAS | 25038-54-4 |
| Melting Point | 210-217 |
| Density | 1.14 |
Hazards and Safety
Mallinckrodt Baker: MSDS
Additional Information
M. Joseph, Introductory Textile Science, Holt Reinhold & Winston, Fort Worth, 1986, p. 135. G.Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:II. Man-made Fibres, 5th edition, Merrow Publishing Co., Durham, England, 1984, p.261.
Comparisons
Properties of Synthetic Fibers
Authority
- G.S.Brady, G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971
- Richard S. Lewis, Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- Marjory L. Joseph, Marjory L. Joseph, Introductory Textile Science, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Fort Worth, TX, 1986
- J.Gordon Cook, J.Gordon Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:II Man-made Fibres, Merrow Publishing Co. , Durham, England
- F. Kidd, F. Kidd, Brushmaking Materials, Bristish Brush Manufacturers, London, 1957
- Meredith Montague, Meredith Montague, contributed information, 1998