Nylon

NYLON

Nylon is a synthetic thermoplastic polymer invented in 1935 by Wallace Carothers at Du Pont. It is the first commercially successful polymer and the first synthetic fibre made from inorganic ingredients like coal, water, and air. It is made of repeating units linked by peptide bonds.

History

The first product was a nylon-bristled toothbrush in 1938. Nylon replaced the Asian silk in parachutes during the World War II; it was also used in making tents, ropes and other military supplies. Nylon was also used in the production of a high-grade paper for United States currency. Due to the war 80% was accounted by cotton and the rest 20% by other manufactured and wool fibres. Later in 1945, 25 % of the market was taken by manufactured fibres and the hare of cotton fell down. It took Du Pont 12 years and $27 million United States $ to refine nylon and develop the industrial processes for bulk manufacture. Nylon mania came to an abrupt stop at the end of 1941, when America entered World War II. After the war ended, Du Pont went back to selling nylon to the public, engaging in another promotional campaign in 1946 that resulted in an even bigger craze triggering off ‘nylon riots’.

Chemistry

Nylons are condensation copolymers formed by reaction of equal parts of a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid, so that peptide bonds form at the both ends of each monomer in a process analogous to polypeptide biopolymers.

Uses

Nylon still remains an important plastic and not just for use in fabrics. In its bulk form, it is very wear-resistant and so is used to build gears, bearings, bushings, and other mechanical parts.