Nylon degradation resistance

The polyamides (PAs) are commonly known as nylons. They are linear molecules with a high degree of crystallinity and have the following formulas, as shown in Figure 8.1. As can be seen from the chemical formulas, there are a variety of polyamides available. Shown are the varieties that are used for corrosion resistance. The nylons are resistant to UV degradation, weathering, and ozone. However, all nylons will absorb some moisture from environmental humidity. This can have an effect on the dimensional stability of a part. 

Geotextiles are available as mats, textiles, webs, nets, grids, and sheets. When retention of the contained material is desired synthetic polymers such as polypropylenes, polyesters, nylons, PEs, and PVCs are used because they resist rapid degradation. When only shortterm retention is needed natural materials such as cotton are used. Geotextiles are not always made from fibers, but include film materials such as PE and polypropylene sheets used to retain moisture but retard weed growth in gardens. 

Amide urethane, and ester groups in the polymer chain, such as those present in nylons and polyesters may be hydrolyzed by acids to produce lower-molecular-weight products. Polyacetals are also degraded by acid hydrolysis, but ethers, such as polyphenylene oxide (PPO), are resistant to attack by acids. 

Nylons require modification or stabilization to improve their resistance to certain environmental effects. Unstabilized nylon is degraded by ultraviolet light. The most widely used stabilizer has been approximately 2% well-dispersed carbon black, which has proved effective in the absorption of ultraviolet light. The nylons are considered adequate for outdoor applications if they are not exposed to direct sun-hght,... 

Nylon 6, or nylon caprolactam, is a polymeric fiber derived from only one constituent, caprolactam, giving the polymer [-(CH2)5CONH-] . It has a lower melting point than nylon 6,6, but it is superior to it in resistance to light degradation, elastic recovery, fatigue resistance, and thermal stability. 

Synthetic fibers have been characterized by a resistance to degradation over forensically relevant timescales (Table 7.4). Nylon (polyamide), polyester, and acrylic fibers show considerable resistance to soil burial. Regenerated cellulose fibers (rayon viscose), however, share the vulnerability of natural cellulose to decomposition (Rowe 1997). However, they do show a higher degree of resistance to biodegradation compared with natural fibers or regenerated cellulose, with the exception of triacetate. 

Epoxy-nylon adhesives are limited to a maximum service temperature of 85°C, and they exhibit poor creep resistance. Possibly their most serious limitation is poor moisture resistance because of the hydrophilic nylon (polyamide) constituent.9 The degradation by exposure to moisture occurs with both the cured and uncured adhesives. 

Certain adhesive systems are more resistant to interfacial degradation by moist environments than are other adhesives. Table 15.16 illustrates that a nitrile-phenolic adhesive does not succumb to failure through the mechanism of preferential displacement at the interface. Failures occurred cohesively within the adhesive even when tested after 24 months of immersion in water. A nylon-epoxy adhesive bond, however, degraded rapidly under the same conditioning owing to its permeability and preferential displacement by moisture. 

The freeboard member is the portion of the boom above the water, which prevents oil from washing over the top of the boom. The term freeboard is also used to refer to the height from the water line to the top of the boom. The skirt is the portion of the boom below the floats or flotation that helps to contain the oil. It is usually made of the same types of fabric as the freeboard member and the covering of the floats. Typical materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, nylon, or aramid, sometimes coated with a spray-on protector or another covering such as PVC, polyester, polyurethane, nitrile, and polyether urethane to resist degradation from oil. 

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