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Chemistry and Biochemistry Chemistry and Biochemistry
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  5. Demo 50: Nylon

Nylon

Materials

250 mL beaker

Food Coloring or Methyles Blue Dye

Forceps

Ring  Stand with Paint roller apparatus

Gloves and Goggles

Solution A: 50ml 0.5M hexamethylenediamine, H22N(CH2)6 NH2, in 0.5M sodium hydroxide

Solution B: 50ml 0.2M sebacoyl Chloride, ClC0(CH2)8COCl, in hexane.

(To prepare dissolve 1.5 - 2 ml sebacoyl chloride in 50ml hexane.)

 

       

Procedure

  1. Wearing gloves, place about 20 - 30 mL of the hexamethylenediamine solution in a 250ml beaker.
  2. Add food coloring or Methylese Blue Dye so that the liwuid is easily seen.
  3. Slowly pour the sebacoyl chloride solution as a second layer on top of the diamine solution, taking care to minimize agitation at the interface.
  4. With Forceps, grasp the polymer film that forms at the interface of the 2 solutions, and pull it carefully from the center of the beaker.
  5. Wind the polymer thread on the paint roller.
  6. Turn the handle on the paint roller which winds the nylong strand oup on the roller.
  7. Wash the polymer thoroughly with water or ethanol before handling.
       

Hazards

Hexamethylenediamine is irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory system. Sodium Hydroxide is caustic and can cause severe burns. Sebacoyl Cloride is corrosive, and irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Hexane is extremely flammable.

       

Waste Management

The paint roller with the nylon strand, any contaminated gloves or paper towels, and any remaining solvents should be bagged and sent to EH&S as hazardous waste (Toxic).