212 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1941 



properties as far as they could be ascertained, and their present or 

 past uses. 



The importance of these new synthetic fibers may be more fully 

 understood when it is considered that the supply of some of our 

 natural fibers may be cut off or prices become prohibitive. At a 

 recent technologists' meeting, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have 

 taken serious recognition of this and are making tests on substitution 

 for silk and wool in particular. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. von Bergen, Director of Research 

 Laboratories of Forstmann Woolen Co., prints of a number of new 

 synthetic fibers, both in longitudinal and cross section, are found in 

 the new Textile Fiber Atlas to be published soon. 



NYLON 



Nylon is the generic name chosen by the du Pont Co. for "a man- 

 made proteinlike chemical product, which may be formed into fibers, 

 bristles, filaments and sheets, and when drawn is characterized by 

 extreme toughness, elasticity and strength," to quote from the com- 

 pany's statements. This means that it has to some degree the same 

 chemical composition as the proteins, of which silk, hair, and wool 

 are common textile examples. The term "nylon" does not refer to 

 any particular chemical form of the polyamide any more than glass 

 refers to any particular form or item of glass. 



It is an outgrowth of considerable research begun by du Pont in 

 1928 and its success was announced by the company on October 27, 

 1938. To explain how it was conceived and how it is made today 

 would be a paper in itself. I shall confine myself only to the textile 

 aspect and its various desirable properties. While nylon is com- 

 monly stated to be made from "coal, air, and water," much more is 

 involved. To the technical man, it can be made from a dibasic acid 

 derived from phenol and a diamine, likewise derived from phenol. 

 Oxygen from the air is needed in the dibasic acid, and ammonia is 

 used in making the diamine. Since phenol is commonly derived 

 from bituminous coal and since ammonia is made synthetically by 

 causing the hydrogen from water to unite with nitrogen from the air, 

 it follows that this particular nylon is derivable from coal, air, and 

 water. 



In regard to its physical and chemical properties, it must be said 

 that nylon is the first synthetic textile fiber that has reached practical 

 use and thereby has proved definitely that it is possible to make 

 textile fibers synthetically and with raw materials other than cellu- 

 lose. Nylon has a crystalline polyamide structure, can be drawn 

 cold, and is exceedingly strong and elastic. This is attributed to 



