SAP 3

Synthesis of Nylon and

Polyester
By: Adrianne Cooke & Priscilla Musa
Background Research
Polymerization of Starch
Polymeric Carbohydrate
Glycosidic bonds
Produced by most green plants
Polymerization of DNA
DNA polymerase is a type of
enzyme that is responsible for
forming new copies of DNA.
Procedure
1A
15mL Hexamethyl Diamine

10 Drops of NaOH

15mL of Adipoyl (6,6) or Sebacoyl (6,10)

1B 2
Double the Diamine to Double the Adipoyl to
30mL 30mL
Hypothesis

We initially thought that doubling the amount of adipoyl

would give us a greater product yield.

….. That was not necessarily true

Week 1:
Nylon 6,6; 1A

Before Oven Drying

O-H peak due to water; is not present in

second diagram due to oven drying the
sample
Week 1:
Nylon 6,6; 1A
Observations:
● Film develops as soon as adipoyl is added Sample burned when
dried in the oven
● Fumes are present in the beginning
● Thread is glossy and fairly thin - not translucent
● Final, dried product is thin and weak; can be unravelled easily.
Week 1/(2):
Nylon 6,6; 1B (Double Diamine)

Before Oven Drying

O-H peak due to water; is not present in

second diagram due to oven drying the
sample
Week 1/(2):
Nylon 6,6; 1B (Double Diamine)
Observations:
● Overall very similar to 1A trial
● The thread is a little thicker than before
● Harder to unravel but seemed stronger than 1A trial
Week 2:
Nylon 6,6; Double Adipoyl

Before Oven Drying

O-H peak due to water; is not present in

second diagram due to oven drying the
sample
Week 2:
Nylon 6,6; Double Adipoyl
Observations:
● Overall similar to trials 1A & 1B
● Thread was thicker and rounder than the first 2 trials.
● Easier to unspool and be separated into finer threads.
● Initially we did not have as much product...
Week 1:
Nylon 6,10; 1A

Before Oven Drying

O-H peak due to water; is not as

prominent in second diagram due to
oven drying the sample
Week 1:
Nylon 6,10; 1A
Observations:
● The solution appears blue before the sebacoyl chloride is added.
● The sebacoyl produced vapor when mixed.
● When sebacoyl is added it looks cloudy and has double layers.
● It's dull and slimy making it harder to spin it, to form a thread.
● It was very brittle and could not form long thread.
Week 1:
Nylon 6,10; 1B (Double Diamine)

Before Oven Drying

O-H peak due to water; is not as

prominent in second diagram due to
oven drying the sample
Week 1:
Nylon 6,10 1B (Double Diamine)
Observations:
● Thread forms faster than the 1A
● The solution looks cloudy
● More thread forms
● It's shiny and easier to spin
● It's stronger and easier to make as a thread
● Produced a much longer thread.
Conclusion/Further Research

Diamine acts as a limiting reagent as observed with our

experiment modification during week 2.
Acknowledgments
A special thanks to Pawan, Catie, Lars, and Michelle… and the Professors.