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Nylon
is a polyamide that can be formed from the condensation polymerization
reaction between adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine, as illustrated
in the diagram below. The condensation product is water (green box). The
nylon produced by the reaction is known as Nylon 6 - 6 because each of
the monomers contains six carbon atoms. The basic 6-6 mer has hydrogen
and hydroxyl end groups that can continue the condensation reaction to
build macromolecules.
Nylon
6.6 can be used at temperatures up to about 120 C, and melts at 264 C.
It is a hygroscopic material and can absorb 10% of water by weight at 20
C and 100% relative humidity. The material is a mouldable thermoplastic
with a Young's modulus of 1.6 to 3.8 GPa, a specific yield strength of
80 MPa/Mg.m-3,
a density of 1.14 Mg/m3,
and a 40 % elongation to fracture. |
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