making nylon

[Krysia Lee]

Hi One my teachers wants to make nylon using adipic acid. Does anyone else do it this way. If so what do you use to dissolve the adipic acid. We've tried cyclohexane. In "The laboratory" they use adipoyl chloride or sebacoyl chloride but we don't have those.
Thanks Krysia

[ellice]

Hi there,
With Adipic acid you use 1,6-diaminohexane (hexamethlenediamine).
Hope this helps.
Ellice

[Rita]

Hi All
I have just been asked to prepare prac for making nylon using trichloroethane and sebacoyl chloride.

Is this a demo only prac?

Have noticed other labbies referring to adipic acid which we don't have.

What method(s) are acceptable please? Where would I find a method using adipic acid?

Hope you can help
Rita

[Jazz]

this method works every time. bottom layer can be made in advance ( shelf life 1 year +).

Demo – making nylon

Bottom layer: this can be prepared in advance.
Mix the following to make the bottom layer –
2.5 g 1,6 diaminohexane
4.5 g anhydrous sodium carbonate
50 mL distilled water

Top layer: I will mix in class
5mL kerosene
10 drops sebacoyl chloride
Gloves
Tweezers
Glass rod

[Rita]

Thank you for the recipe, much appreciated.

[mtg]

Do a search in chemtalk I know we've discussed it heaps. I would never use kero, the smell is hard to get rid of and it makes some people (me) quite ill!

[Milo]

I've just prepared this one for a Year 12 Chemistry demo. I used the recipe in Barbara Dungey's "The Laboratory" book. 5g of diaminohexane in 100mL water, and 5mL sebacoyl chloride in 100mL of hexane. Seemed to work well. The diaminohexane solution lasts but the sebacoyl chloride is better fresh, it appears to be crystallising in the flask.

Only problem is, they paired this demo with making PVA slime and the beakers just won't come clean...