Innovation of Nylon

 

UKA TARSADIA UNIVERSITY  B.V PATEL INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT   topic: innovation of nylon

 

 WHAT IS NYLON? :  Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers, based on aliphatic or semiaromatic polyamides.  Nylon is a thermoplastic silky mat material erial that can be me melt-processed lt-processed into fibers, films, or sha shapes. pes.  Nylon polymers polymers can be mi mixed xed with a w wide ide variety of additives to achieve m many any different property variations.  Nylon polymers polymers have found signifi significant cant com commercial mercial appli applications cations in fabric and fibers (appa (apparel, rel, flooring aand nd rubber reinforcement), in shapes (molded parts for cars, electrical equipme equipment, nt, etc.), and in films (mostly for food packaging).  Nylon was first used comme commercially rcially in a nylon-bristled toothbrush in 1938, followed more famously in women's stockings or "nylons" w which hich were shown at tthe he 1939 New York W World's orld's Fair and first sold commercially commerc ially in 1940.

 

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HISTORY AND INVENTION OF NYLON:

DuPont, founded by Eleuthero Irene du Pont, first produced gunpowd gunpowder er and later cellulose based paints. Following WWI, DuPont produced synthetic ammonia and other che chemicals. micals. DuPont's experience with rayon was an important precursor to its development and marketing of nylon DuPont's invention of nylon spanned sp anned an eleven-year period, ranging from the initial research  program in polymers polymers in 1927 to its announceme announcement nt in 1938, shortly before the opening of the 1939 New Y York ork World's Fair Fair.. The production of nylon required interdepartmental collaboration collaboration between three departments at DuPont: the Department of Chemical Research, the Amm Ammonia onia Department, and the Department of Rayon. Some of the key key ingredients of nyl nylon on had to be produced using high pressure chemistry, the main area of expertise of the Ammonia Department  Nylon was considered a “godsend to the Ammonia Department”, Department”, which had been in financial difficulties.

 

The reactants of nylon soon constituted half of the Ammonia department's sales and helped them come out of the period of the Great Depress Depression ion by creating jobs and revenue at DuPont. DuPont's nylon project demonstrated demonstrated the importa importance nce of chemical engine engineering ering in industry industry,, helped create  jobs, and furthered furthered the advance advancement ment of che chemical mical engine engineering ering tec techniques. hniques. The ability to acquire a large number of chemists and engineers quickly was a huge contribution to the success of DuPont's nylon project. The first nylon plant was located at Seaford, Delaware, beginning commerc commercial ial production on December 15, 1939. On October 26, 1995, the Seaford plant was designated a National Historic C Chemical hemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society Society..

 

 IMPACT:  Nylon was an immediate success. It found dozens dozens of uses, including in toothbrushes, toothbrushes, as fishing lines, surgical thread, and especially stockings (which came to be called nylons). It is resistant to moisture and has flow properties that make it perfect for injection molding and  Nylon lends itself to a wider variety of fabrics than any natural fiber. It can be woven woven into tricot, reversible knot, taffeta, crepe, satin, velvet fleece, brocade, lace, organza, and seersucker. Besides clothing, nylon has found uses in parachutes, ropes, screening, body armor, and cords for automobile tires.  Nylon is an especially good target target for recycling because of its high melting point. Manufacturers have made a specific commitment to recycle carpeting (for (f or which 2 billion pounds [907,200,000 kg] of nylon are used each year), but as recently as 1996 only 1% of discarded carpet was finding its way into new carpeting.

 Not only did nylon add to D DuPont's uPont's wealt wealth, h, but the llaboratory aboratory that Carothers ha had d established went on to create non-stick coatings, spandex fiber, Kevlar, and many other polymers of commerci commercial al importance.

 

 NYLON HITS THE MARKET: Though nylon was first synthesized in a DuPont Chemicals laboratory on Feb. 28, 1935, it didn’t become available to the public until 1940. When When it did, it was in the form of stockings, and women across the U.S. U.S. flocked to departm department ent stores to get their hands on a pa pair. ir. Women’s stockings were all the rage in the late 1930’s, but in post -Depression America, America, the high price of the silk they were often made from was not. Despite its wildly successful first year, DuPont shifted nearly all of its nylon production from the consumer market to the military in 1941 as the United States entered WWII. Allied forces used the material for everything from parachute parachutess to mosquito nets. But by then, fashion trends had already spurred such high demand for the stockings that when consumers couldn’t get their hands on them, a black a black market market emerged. Some wome women n even resorted to painting thei theirr legs in an effort to capture the look. When the war ended and production prod uction returned to pre-war levels, consumers rushed to department stores .The .The phenomenon came to be known as the nylon riots.

 

 NYLON TODAY:  Nylon stockings no longer longer inspire riots. But nylon as as a material is arguably arguably more  pervasive than ever. ever. Toothbrushes. Umbrellas. Toilet brushes. Fishing line. Windbreakers. Camping tents. Winter gloves. Kites. DogMedical leashes. implants. Dog collars. Guitar strings. Guitar picks. Children’s Children’ s toys. Racket strings. These are a mere sampling the nearly innumerable things made from nylon —  nylon — and and consumers have Wallace Wallace Carothers and his team at DuPont to thank for it.