Nylon (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what nylon is, how it was discovered and what are the different uses for which this polymer can be used.

What is Nylon?

A type of nylon is known as nylon or nylon (the latter is the name of a registered trademark). synthetic polymer discovered in 1933 and used mostly as textile fiber.

Nylon is a polyamide, that is, a polymer that contains amide chemical functional groups (RCONR'R'') and that presents very particular physical properties, especially in terms of resistance, elasticity and transparency.

When subjected to high temperatures, it melts, greatly reducing its viscosity. Its melting point is approximately 263ºC and it is soluble in phenol and formic acid.

It emerged at the beginning of the 20th century as a war material to make parachutes and ropes, but soon proved to be a viable substitute for rayon or silk since it is immune to moths and does not require ironing, which is why it revolutionized the women's textile market.

Nylon too It was useful for making hard materials (brushes, combs, etc.) or for fishing lines, bristles, nets, etc., and today it is a highly demanded material, which is obtained industrially through the polycondensation of a diacid and an amine.

Origin of the name

The commercial name of this product arose during the Second World War, and there are several possible explanations regarding its origin. One says that it is an acronym between New York (acronym NY) and London (Lon) since its creative researchers came from each city.

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Another explanation suggests that they used the initial of the name of each wife of the technical team that prepared the material for the first time: Natalia, Yolanda, Laura, Olaya and Norma.

And another legend explains that Nylon comes from American nationalist exclamations against the Japanese as Now You Lousy Old Nipponese (which would be something like “There you go, you lousy old Japanese”) or Now You Lose Old Nippon (“Now you lose, old Japanese”).