5.15 Polyamides

A diamine and a dicarboxylic acid can react to form a polyamide. A -CO₂H group on one molecule combines with an H₂N- group on another, forming a -CONH- amide group. The amide group is polar and hydrophilic, and the C-N bond has partial double bond quality.

Nylon 66 is a polyamide thermoplastic, made from 1,6-diamino hexane and hexanedioic acid.

Nylon 66.

Nylon 6 has a slightly different molecular structure, being a polymer of 6-amino hexanoic acid; it consists of repeating units of -NH(CH₂)₅CO- joined by amide bonds.

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