Related Literature Nylon is a synthetic fiber.

Nylon is a polyamide, making it a polymer whose molecular chains are formed by regularly spaced CONH amide groups. Because nylon is produced by polymerization, the monomers that create it are important in differentiating between the various forms of nylon. The name of a nylon is commonly followed by some figures indicating the number of carbon atoms in the structural monomers of the nylon. The first number gives the carbon atoms of the diamine (a polyamine with two amino groups) and the second gives those of the bicarboxylic acid (Trossarelli, 2003) The amide groups making up nylon make it a useful and strong synthetic fiber. Amide groups are strongly attracted to each other. When nylon is spun into fibers, the long chain-like macromolecules line up parallel to one another. The amide groups on adjacent chains form the hydrogen bonds than hold the chains together (The Chemical Heritage Foundation, 2000). To create nylon, adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine are combined to form a salt which is taken into an autoclave where polymerization occurs. In this reaction, long-chain linear polymers with molecular weights of 10,000 Daltons or higher are formed. After polymerization, the molten nylon is pushed out of the autoclave as a ribbon onto a chilled roll, and the ribbon is cut into small chips. This leaves the nylon in a form that is easy to handle, store, or blend with other products. The nylon chips are poured into a spinning unit and dropped onto a specially designed heated grid on which the polymer melts. The melt is pumped through various filters before passing through the spinneret to form filaments. The threads quickly harden upon striking the air outside the spinneret, where they are bound up on bobbins. By applying significant force, the nylon threads are drawn out to about four times their original length (Inderfurth, 1953). Applications of Nylon After nylon was first synthesized in 1938, it was put to use in hair brush bristles. Hosiery filaments were developed by 1939, and by 1941, nylon was being applied to the molding

industry. Between 1942 and 1944, almost all of the nylon being manufactured in the U.S. was distributed for war uses. It is at this point in history, previously silk parachutes and ropes were replaced by parachutes and ropes made of nylon. Nylon was soon given various textile applications including: tooth brushes, household brushes, hair brushes, tennis racquet strings, catheters, surgical sutures, fishing leader material, musical strings, wire insulation, selflubricating bearings for machinery, umbrellas, undergarments, and shower curtains (Harding, 1982).

Significance of the study This study is helpful for the conservation of industrial hair wastes.

Conceptual Framework Input Process Output