Nylon
First commercially successful synthetic thermoplastic polymer.
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Nylon is a group of synthetic polymers defined by amide bonds that usually link aliphatic or semi-aromatic groups. These materials are generally brownish, can feel soft, and some types look silky. Because they are thermoplastics, nylons can be melted and shaped into fibers, films, and various forms. Their properties are often adjusted by mixing in additives.
There are several kinds of nylon. One type, called nylon-XY, comes from diamines and dicarboxylic acids, where X and Y are the carbon chain lengths of those components. Nylon-6,6 is a well-known example.
DuPont and the invention of nylon
Another type, nylon-Z, is made from aminocarboxylic acids with a carbon chain length Z, such as nylon-6. Nylons are used widely in textiles and fibers—for clothing, flooring, and rubber reinforcement—as well as in molded parts for cars and electronics, and in films, mostly for food packaging. DuPont’s work on nylon grew out of its earlier development of cellulose-based fibers, especially rayon. The project began in 1927, when Charles Stine proposed a new structure at DuPont: small research teams focused on “pioneering research” that might lead to practical uses.
Wallace Hume Carothers, a Harvard instructor, was hired to lead the polymer group. Initially, he concentrated on pure research, testing the theories of German chemist Hermann Staudinger. His work greatly advanced the understanding of polymers. Nylon was the first commercially successful synthetic thermoplastic polymer.
Carothers and his team had already created two new polymers by spring 1930: neoprene, a synthetic rubber later used heavily in World War II, and an elastic paste that hardened into a strong material—this would become nylon. After these discoveries, the team shifted from pure research to a practical goal: finding a chemical combination suitable for industry. In early 1935, a polymer called “polymer 6-6” was finally made.
Carothers’ colleague Julian W. Hill had used a cold-drawing method on a polyester in 1930, and Carothers applied that method in 1935 to fully develop nylon. The first nylon, nylon 6,6, was synthesized on February 28, 1935, at DuPont’s Experimental Station. It had the desired elasticity and strength but required a complex manufacturing process. DuPont patented the polymer in September 1938 and quickly gained a monopoly on the fiber.
Lore & Background
Researchers at DuPont began developing cellulose-based fibers, culminating in the synthetic fiber rayon. DuPont's experience with rayon was an important precursor to its development and marketing of nylon. Harvard instructor Wallace Hume Carothers was hired to direct the polymer research group. Initially he was allowed to focus on pure research, building on and testing the theories of German chemist Hermann Staudinger.
He was very successful, as research he undertook greatly improved the knowledge of polymers and contributed to the science. Carothers died 16 months before the announcement of nylon, therefore he was never able to see his success. The name 'Nylon' came from the modification of norun (no run) into a unique name that could be used to market the product but was not trademarked. During World War II, almost all nylon production was diverted to the military for use in parachutes and parachute cord.
Reader's Guide
Nylon's significance lies in its role as the first commercially successful synthetic thermoplastic polymer, which revolutionized the textile and plastics industries. Its invention by DuPont demonstrated the importance of chemical engineering in industry, helped create jobs, and furthered the advancement of chemical engineering techniques. The production of nylon required interdepartmental collaboration between three departments at DuPont: the Department of Chemical Research, the Ammonia Department, and the Department of Rayon. The reactants of nylon soon constituted half of the Ammonia Department's sales and helped them come out of the period of the Great Depression by creating jobs and revenue at DuPont.
However, early excitement caused problems, including unreasonable expectations and public distrust fueled by a rumor that nylon could be made from cadaverine extracted from corpses. DuPont changed its campaign strategy, emphasizing that nylon was made from 'coal, air and water', and focused on personal and aesthetic aspects. Nylon's legacy includes its extensive commercial applications in textiles, fibers, molded components, and films, and its wartime use in parachutes and parachute cord greatly increased the market for new materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nylon?
Nylon is a family of synthetic polymers built around amide linkages that join aliphatic or semi-aromatic segments together. It made its debut as the first commercially successful synthetic thermoplastic polymer, and it now shows up in textiles, fibers, molded parts, and films.
Who is Nylon's creator?
Wallace Hume Carothers, working in the DuPont research labs, is credited with inventing Nylon. The project spanned roughly eleven years of development before the material was finally unveiled to the public.
Why is Nylon considered a landmark in materials science?
As the first synthetic thermoplastic polymer to achieve real commercial success, Nylon proved that laboratory-designed macromolecules could be manufactured at scale and trusted in daily-use products. Its story opened the door for the entire modern plastics and engineering-polymer industry.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Nylon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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