INTRODUCTION TO NYLON FIBRE

Polyamide is the chemical name of nylon. NYLON was invented by Dr. William H. Carother
who is a British by origin and settled in United States of America. The chemical name of this
polymer is known as polyhexamethylene adipamide. This fibre is prepared from two components
i.e. adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine.
PREPERATION OF ADIPIC ACID
Phenol is chosen as the starting point. It is reduced to cyclohexanol by passing its vapour, mixed
with hydrogen, over a catalyst.
PREPERATION OF HEXAMETHYLENE DIAMINE
A portion of the adipic acid is converted into hexamethylene diamine. A mixture of adipic acid
and ammonia is passed over silica gel or boron phosphate at temperature in the range of 350C to
400C. During the course of the reaction diammonium adipate is formed which is converted to
adipamide and this in turn loses water yielding adiponitrile.
The nitrile can be converted to hexamethylene diamine by reduction in the presence of liquid
ammonia at 125C under 600 to 625 atmospheric pressure (608 to 634 bars ) together with a
copper-cobalt catalyst.
POLYMERISATION
Solutions of adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine in methanol are run concurrently into a
mixing vessel. The formation of the salt is accompanied by the generation af heat and the
temperature must not be allowed to rise too high during mixing. The nylon 66 salt has very low
solubility in the methanol and separates out as pure crystals which are centrifuged and dried.
The polymerization is comparatively simple process. A 60% solution of the 66 salt in water is
pumped into an autoclave. A small amount of acetic acid is added to block some of the amino end
groups and thus control the degree of polymerization. The air is then driven out of the autoclave
with a stream of steam because traces of oxygen would cause oxidation and discoloration of final
product.
The temperature of 250 lb/in2 steam is continuously fed into the heating system for a further 2 to
3 hours, the same pressure being maintained by allowing the necessary amount of steam to escape
from the autoclave. The pressure is then slowly reduced to one atmosphere over a period between
1 to 2 hours, the temperature of the mixture being allowed to reach 270C to 280C so that the
polymer, which melts at 264C, does not solidify.
The molten nylon 66 settles at the bottom of the vessel and is forced out through a silt orifice by
pressurizing the autoclave with nitrogen. A tape of hot semi-solid polymer emerges which is
completely solidified by spraying cold water on it as it passes over a rotating drum. The product
is then transferred to a disintegrator where it is cut into chips which are packed in airtight sealed
drums and stored until required for spinning.

SPINNING
Nylon is melt spun. The ribbon of nylon is broken into nylon chips. These are fed through a
hopper into a spinning vessel. In this they fall on to an electrically heated grid, which has mesh
too small to pass the chips until they have melted. As it melts, the molten nylon passes into the
pool, it is desirable to keep this pool small in order to reduce the molten state is subject. A
nitrogen atmosphere is maintained over the pool of polymer. The melt (288C) is metered by a
pump through a filter to the orifices. The orifices are of about 0.01mm diameter. The melt
solidifies immediately it comes from the jets and so formed filaments pass through a cooling
chamber in which a cold air current is swept across them.
The spinning speed is about 1,200 meters per minute. As the yarn emerges from the cooling
chamber it is at a temperature of about 70C. It is next run through a steam chamber, to wet it
before it is wound if it were wound without this treatment later is extend a little in length on the
package as it picked up moisture from the air to gain equilibrium and would slough off the
package. A very slight twist which facilitates subsequent handling may be inserted during
spinning.
USES OF NYLON FIBRE
1. The high tenacity of nylon has made it of paramount important for parachute fabric, tyre cord
and harness, gilder tow ropes, sewing threads.
2. It can be preset by steaming and is used in the manufacture of ladies hose.
3. High tenacity has made nylon useful for ropes, these can be much lighter and easier to handle
than those made from natural fibres.
4. The high tenacity and resistance to abrasion properties have led to the use of nylon in the fabric
foundation of motor and aeroplane tyres, the life of the tyres being considerably increased by the
inclusion of nylon.
5. Tarpaulins in large numbers have been made from nylon coated with P.V.C.
6. The durability of nylon, combined with its strength, has made nylon very suitable for
transmission belting and for universal joint discs and link belts.
7. Typewriter ribbons have been made from nylon, they are stronger and thinner than usual and
give better definition and last longer, especially in electric typewriters were they have to
withstand the constant hammering of the types and the link does not spread so well during rest
periods from unworn to worn parts as it does with cotton.
8. Resistance to water and especially to sea water, combined with the strength and durability of
nylon has led to its use for ropes and cordage and for fish netting which is relatively translucent
so that more fish are caught, furthermore the nets are rotproof. Since netting used by our smaller
fishing boats is also made of nylon.
9. Chemical resistance has led to nylons use for filter fabrics especially for oils. Because of the
case with which they can be cleaned, nylon fabrics are used for fruit crushing.

10. One good feature of nylon is carpets and it is one that appeals to large users, hotels, offices,
ships and reception rooms. This nylon carpets can be wet cleaned easily to look like new.
11. Nylon also used for non-woven fabrics made by thermo bonded and needle punched
processing especially for underlining, filter media etc.