Nylon Permeability

Polymer Plasticizer. Nylon, cellulose, and cellulose esters can be plasticized using sulfolane to improve flexibiUty and to increase elongation of the polymer (130,131). More importantly, sulfolane is a preferred plasticizer for the synthesis of cellulose hoUow fibers, which are used as permeabiUty membranes in reverse osmosis (qv) cells (131—133) (see Hollow-FIBERMEMBRANEs). In the preparation of the hoUow fibers, a molten mixture of sulfolane and cellulose triacetate is extmded through a die to form the hoUow fiber. The sulfolane is subsequently extracted from the fiber with water to give a permeable, plasticizer-free, hoUow fiber. 

Calendering A process by which fabric or wire is passed through a pair of heavy rolls to reduce thickness, to flatten the intersections of the threads/wires and to control air permeability. Rolls are heated when calendering synthetic materials. Carbonized threads Nylon or polyester therads that have been treated to include varrying degrees of carbon. 

There are substantial differences in the rates at which water vapor and other gases can permeate different plastics. For instance, PE is a good barrier for moisture or water vapor, but other gases can permeate it rather readily. Nylon, on the other hand, is a poor barrier to water vapor but a good one to other vapors. The permeability of plastic films is reported in various units, often in grams or cubic centimeters of gas per 100 in.2 per mil of thickness (0.001 in.) of film per twenty-four hours. The transmission rates are influenced by such different factors, as pressure and temperature differentials on opposite sides of the film. 

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a typical CO electrode. A KCI/HCOJ containing electrolyte solution is trapped within a nylon mesh spacer layer whose pH is monitored by a contacting conventional glass pH electrode. A CO permeable membrane isolates the electrolyte layer from the analyte phase. Currently available... 

On-line SFE-pSFC-FTIR was used to identify extractable components (additives and monomers) from a variety of nylons [392]. SFE-SFC-FID with 100% C02 and methanol-modified scC02 were used to quantitate the amount of residual caprolactam in a PA6/PA6.6 copolymer. Similarly, the more permeable PS showed various additives (Irganox 1076, phosphite AO, stearic acid - ex Zn-stearate - and mineral oil as a melt flow controller) and low-MW linear and cyclic oligomers in relatively mild SCF extraction conditions [392]. Also, antioxidants in PE have been analysed by means of coupling of SFE-SFC with IR detection [121]. Yang [393] has described SFE-SFC-FTIR for the analysis of polar compounds deposited on polymeric matrices, whereas Ikushima et al. [394] monitored the extraction of higher fatty acid esters. Despite the expectations, SFE-SFC-FTIR hyphenation in on-line additive analysis of polymers has not found widespread industrial use. While applications of SFC-FTIR and SFC-MS to the analysis of additives in polymeric matrices are not abundant, these techniques find wide application in the analysis of food and natural product components [395]. 

Nylon, aluminum, PVC (OPA-aluminum-PVC) composites offer functional alternatives to traditional ther-moformed materials. With a laminate structure of 25 pm OPA, 45 pm aluminum, with 60 pm PVC (1 mL OPA 1.8 mL aluminum-2.4 mL PVC), it is possible to almost completely eliminate water-vapor permeability [25]. 

Even better results were obtained by Johnson et al. [24] with the Co compounds shown as Fig. 10. These were dissolved in appropriate solvents and immobilized into standard microporous membranes composed of nylon or PTFE. Oxygen permeabilities were as high as 3 x 10 8 sec-cm/(cm2-s-cmHg) with selectivity over nitrogen up to 20, leading to product purity up to 85%. 

Table 19. Oxigen and toluene permeability of melt-blended EVOH-Nylon 6(L), measured at 30 °C [297]...

Moreover, the unique adsorption properties of GEC allowed the very sensitive electrochemical detection of DNA based on its intrinsic oxidation signal that was shown to be strongly dependent of the multi-site attachment of DNA and the proximity of G residues to GEC [100]. The thick layer of DNA adsorbed on GEC was more accessible for hybridization than those in nylon membranes obtained with genosensors based on nylon/GEC with a changeable membrane [99,101,102]. Allhough GEC has a rough surface, it is impermeable, while nylon is more porous and permeable. DNA assays made on an impermeable support are less complex from a theoretical standpoint [7] the kinetics of the interactions are not compUcated by the diffusion of solvent and solutes into and out of pores or by multiple interactions that can occur once the DNA has entered a pore. This explained the lower hybridization time, the low nonspecific adsorplion and the low quantity of DNA adsorbed onto GEC compared to nylon membranes. 

Polarizability Permeability Poisson s ratio Dielectric polarization Phase angle between stress and strain Specific resistance Polyamide (nylon)... 

A related system is that of the lipid-bilayer corked capsule membranes which are formed from ultrathin (about 1 pm thick), spongy, 2.0- to 2.5-mm-diameter, more-or-less spherical nylon bags in which multiple bilayers are immobilized (Fig. 43) [343-345]. They were considered to combine the advantages of mechanical and chemical stabilities of polymeric membranes with the controllable permeabilities of surfactant vesicles. Polymerization of the bilayers, in situ,... 

Fig. 9. Experimental integral permeability plots for Dyes I—III through Nylon 6 membranes according to Eq. (14)84) (with CDS1 varying between zero and a small finite value to the extent indicated by the horizontal bars) O Dye I A Dye II Dye III...

The porous membrane retaining the inicroorganisms was fixed on the surface of the Teflon membrane on the electrode. Furthermore, a gas permeable membrane was placed on the surface of the electrode and covered with a nylon net. 

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. 

PVOH (or tradename PVAL) is a crystalline, white powder soluble in water and alcohols. It is characterized by water solubility, low gas permeability barrier, high resistance to organic solvents other than alcohol, and crystallinity when stretch oriented. Crystallinity allows the material to polarize light. A series of hydrolysis levels of the plastic are available that range from room temperature solubility to those not soluble at all. The major applications of the PVOHs are in elastomeric products, adhesives, films, and finishes. Extruded PVOH hoses and tubing are excellent for use subjected to contact with oils and other chemicals. PVOH is used as a sizing in the manufacture of nylon. 

Nylon 6/6 is the most widely used, followed by nylon 6, with similar properties except that it absorbs moisture more rapidly and its melting point is 21C (70F) lower. Also, its lower processing temperature and less crystalline structure result in lower mold shrinkage. Nylon 6/6 has the lowest permeability by gasoline and mineral oil of all the nylons. The 6/10 and 6/12 types are used where lower moisture absorption and better dimensional stability are needed. Nylons 11 and 12 have better dimensional stability and electrical properties than the others because they absorb less moisture. These more expensive types also are compounded with plasticizers to increase their flexibility and ductility. With nylon toughening and technology advancements supertough nylons became available. Their notched lzod impact values are over 10 J/m (20 ft-lb/in), and they fail in a ductile manner. 

Acetal translucent crystalline polymer is one of the stiffest TPs available. It provides excellent hardness and heat resistance, even in the presence of solvents and alkalies. Its low moisture sensitivity and good electrical properties permit direct competition with die-cast metal in a variety of applications. In addition, acetal has extremely high creep resistance and low permeability. Acetal is also available as a copolymer (Hoechst Celanese Corp. s Celcon) for improved processability. The homopolymer (DuPont s Delrin) has a very low coefficient of friction and its resistance to abrasion is second only to nylon 6/6. Acetals are frequently blended with fibers such as glass or fluorocarbon to enhance stiffness and friction properties. Acetal is not particularly weather-resistant, but grades are available with UV stabilizers for improved outdoor performance. Acetal, whether homopolymer or copolymer, is not used to any significant degree in forming structural foams. 

Okahata Y, Lim HJ, Nakamura G, and Hachiya S. A large nylon capsule coated with a synthetic bilayer membrane. Permeability control of NaCl by phase transition of the dialkylammonium bilayer coating. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1983 105 4855. 

Enzymes may be immobilized by encapsulation in nonpermanent (e.g., liposomes) or permanent (e.g., nylon) microcapsules. The enzyme is trapped inside by a semi-permeable membrane, where substrates and products are small enough to freely diffuse across the boundary. While nonpermanent microcapsules are useful in biochemical research, only permanent microencapsulations yield analytically useful systems, because of their mechanical stability. 

---