Polyamides: Properties, Structure, Uses & Advantages

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Polyamide is a polymer made up of repeating units joined by amide bonds. Polyamides are found in nature, but they can also be synthesized intentionally. Proteins, such as wool and silk, are natural polyamides, whereas nylons, aramids, and sodium poly-aspartate are man-made polyamides. To make a polyamide, two monomer molecules are linked together by an amide function. 

Keyterms: Polymer, Amide bonds, Monomer, Nylons, Aramids, Sodium poly-aspartate, Fibers, Carboxylic acid, Synthetic fibers, Natural polyamides, Proteins, Silk

Also Read: Copolymers


What is Polyamide?

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A synthetic polymer is referred to as a polyamide. It is made up of an amino group from one molecule and a carboxylic acid group from another molecule linked together. It includes nylon and other synthetic fibers. Because of its strength and durability, synthetic polyamide is widely used in the culinary, textile, and automobile sectors. Polyamide can be found in tents, fishing nets, ropes, tennis rackets, etc.

Polyamide Fabric
Polyamide Fabric

Structure of Polyamide

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Polyamide is made up of repeating units joined by amide bonds. The following is a diagram of the polyamide structure.

Structure of Polyamide
Structure of Polyamide

Manufacturers and engineers in today's environment usually want a material that is lighter and more flexible than metal while also providing durability and protection. Polyamide is an excellent material for this purpose. It is a mainstay in product manufacturing across numerous industries due to its durability, convenience, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Read More: Condensation polymerization


Physical Properties of Polyamides

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Polyamide has a number of physical qualities that makes it suitable for a variety of uses:

Abrasion Resistance or Scraped Spot Obstruction: Polyamide is extremely resistant to abrasion and wear. This property makes it particularly durable in high-contact zones.

Chemical Resistance or Substance Opposition: Cast polyamides provide superior protection against synthetics as compared to wires and connections in severe environments.

Nylon- most used polyamide globally
Nylon- most used polyamide globally

Corrosion Resistance: Polyamide has good corrosion resistance when it comes to caustic compounds. Polyamides are appropriate for harsh environments that would erode metals within a few years, such as chemical processing plants, processing plants, refineries, and wastewater treatment plants.

Electromagnetic Obstruction: For sensitive applications, some specially engineered polyamides, such as the type used in ROHRflex conductors, provide electromagnetic (EMC) protection.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Polyamides were designed with good adaptability in mind. This elasticity makes polyamide things easier to transport, curve, and fit into tight areas, and it allows for assembly and installation in places where unbending metal constructions aren't possible. Polyamide will remain adaptable even after extended periods of use or exposure to extreme temperatures.

Read More: Thermosetting polymers


Chemical Properties of Polyamides

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Aside from these characteristics, polyamides have a few more essential qualities. They are as follows:

Polyamides' wide temperature range: Aliphatic polyamides typically soften around roughly 500 to 550 K which makes them excellent heat resisters. They don't explode into flames, and when they do, they emit very little smoke. 

Thickness: Nylon polyamide is thin, with a thickness of roughly 1.31 g/cm3. Polyamide is an incredibly lightweight material due to its low density and thickness. 

Polyamide properties
Polyamide properties

Strength: Polyamide has a lot of elasticity and has resistance to pressure. A forklift, for example, can compress a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - jacketed metallic conductor framework and penetrate its protection, but a polyamide framework efficiently resists penetrating and withstands even significant forklift pressure, according to strength tests.

There are 4 categories for a polyamide polymer:

  1. Polyamide 6 or PA - 6
  2. Polyamide 11 or PA - 11
  3. Polyamide 12 or PA - 12
  4. Polyamide 66 or PA - 66

Where nylon 6 refers to Polyamide 6.

Read More: Co-polymer


Polyamide Fabric

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Polyamide fabric is a term that is commonly used to describe versatile fabrics made from polyamide monomer strings. This fabric is a petroleum-based polymeric synthetic textile. Today, we see this material used in a variety of applications, such as apparel materials in the fashion business.

Polyamide Fabric
Polyamide Fabric

In addition, next to polyester, polyamide fabric is one of the most extensively used synthetic fabrics today. Polyamide fabrics are extensively used in sportswear, pants, coats, undergarments, shoes etc.

Read More: Elastomers


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  • Assembly Time: Polyamide goods are frequently much faster to assemble than their competitors. They're lighter and easier to transport, and they're compatible with frill-like connectors. While metals are difficult to cut, polyamides are designed with rapid cutting and gathering in mind. 
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Polyamides are extremely cost-effective. They have lower establishing costs than other materials since they are easier to carry, and they have generally lower production costs than metals.
  • Solidity: Polyamide is extremely strong due to its various obstructive features. It will last for a long time without requiring excessive maintenance.
Flexibility of Polyamides
Flexibility of Polyamides
  • Entrance Assurance: Polyamide creates a strong seal that won't leak. Unlike PVC and other plastics, it is also unsightly to rats since it does not protect aromas, so pests will not be lured to chew through it.
Good Assemblage of Polyamide
Good Assemblage of Polyamide
  • Durability: Polyamide is commonly projected rather than woven for mechanical purposes. Following the casting, offices can manufacture the cast pieces into a variety of multifunctional parts.
  • Noise Dampening: Because polyamide is a sound divider, it's an excellent choice for noisy environments where a reduction in clamor can aid productivity or reduce disturbance to nearby residents.

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Things to Remember

  • Polyamide is a polymer made up of repeating units joined by amide bonds. Polyamides are found in nature, but they can also be synthesized artificially. 
  • Proteins, such as wool and silk, are natural polyamides, whereas nylons, aramids, and sodium poly-aspartate are man-made polyamides.
  • Polyamide, on the other hand, is a polymer of amino acids that can be both natural and synthetic, according to the definition. Polyamide fabric is also a material composition that refers to nylon fabric, therefore it is entirely synthetic.
  • Polyamides are extremely cost-effective. They have lower establishing costs than other materials since they are easier to carry, and they have generally lower creation costs than metals.
  • Polyamide fabric, however, is harmful to the environment. As a result, we must use natural polyamide fiber to protect the environment.

Previous Year Questions

  1. Formaldehyde Polymerizes To Form Glucose According
  2. Which One Of The Following Is Not Correctly Matche
  3. Which Of The Following Has Ester Linkage
  4. Which Of The Following Is A Condensation Polymer
  5. Which Of The Following Is A Example Of Co Polymer
  6. Which Of The Following Is Not A Semi Synthetic Pol
  7. Which Of The Following Is Not A Synthetic Polymer
  8. Which Of The Following Is Not An Example Of Additi
  9. Which Of The Following Is Not An Example Of Rubber
  10. Which Of The Following Is Not True For Thermoplast
  11. Which Of The Following Represents The Example Of H
  12. Which Of The Following Is Not A Synthetic Fibre
  13. Which Of The Following Polymers Is Prepared By Con
  14. Which Of The Following Structures Represents Neopr
  15. Which One Of The Following Is A Chain Growth

Sample Questions

Ques. Is silk polyamide or non-polyamide? (2 marks)

Ans. A polyamide, like nylon, is a synthetic polymer formed by joining molecules of a single amide or monomer. A silkworm produces silk, which is a pure natural fibrous protein. Proteins are polymers of amino acids that contain around 20 distinct molecules connected together head to tail, but the sequence of the amino acids dictates the physical and chemical features of the protein, which can range from enzyme catalysts to skin sheets to silk strands.

Ques. What is the difference between polyamide and polyester fabrics? (2 marks)

Ans. Both synthetic fibres are abrasion- and tear-resistant, absorb little moisture (allowing for good moisture transport away from the body), are elastic and crease-free, but are prone to pilling. Polyamide is the most resistant (even when wet) of all textile raw materials and is extremely elastic. Polyester is incredibly light and has great return conduct because of its rippling feature. Polyester is also colourfast, preserves its shape, and is resistant to sweat and UV rays (lightfast). Because polyester has a high melting point, it can be used to print transfers.)

Ques. When it comes to polyamide and polyimide, what's the difference? (2 marks)

Ans. A polyamide is a macromolecule that is made up of repeating units connected by amide bonds. Polyamides can be found in both natural and synthetic forms. Proteins, such as wool and silk, are examples of naturally occurring polyamides. Step-growth polymerization or solid-phase synthesis can be used to create artificial polyamides, such as nylons, aramids, and sodium polyamides (aspartate).

Polyimide (abbreviated as PI) is a polymer made up of imide monomers. Since 1955, polyimides have been mass-produced in large quantities. Polyimides are used in a variety of applications that need tough organic materials, such as high-temperature fuel cells, displays, and different military functions, because of their excellent heat resistance. Kapton is a well-known polyimide made from the condensation of pyromellitic dianhydride with 4,4'-oxydianiline.

Ques. Is polyamide a waterproof material? (2 marks)

Ans. Nylon, a polyamide, is a material that absorbs water. It is, in my opinion, water-resistant. It is not waterproof. Nylon weakens when wet, thus it's not a suitable choice if you need wet strength, like in the case of a boating rope. When it comes to fabrics, nylon expands, making the woven fabric more resistant to water incursion. It also becomes heavier.

Ques. How many ways may polyamides be made? (2 marks)

Ans. Polyamides can be made using two different techniques. The first is the condensation of molecules with both a carboxyl and an amino (NH2or NH) group. In nature, proteins are produced using this mechanism. The carboxyl group of one amino acid molecule makes an amide bond with the amino group of the following amino acid, resulting in long or short chains. A molecule with two carboxyl groups is joined with another molecule with two amino groups in the second approach. When adipic acid is mixed with hexamethylenediamine, the resulting polymer is known as nylon-6,6, with the number referring to the number of carbon atoms in each monomer molecule.

Ques. What does the term "Kevlar" mean? (2 marks)

Ans. Kevlar, a polyaromatic amide (aramid) fibre made from terephthalic acid and p-phenylenediamine, was invented by DuPont in 1971. When compared to other materials of comparable strength, one of Kevlar's distinguishing characteristics is its lightweight. A 7.6 cm (3 inches) Kevlar cable, for example, has the same strength as a similarly woven 7.6 cm (3 inches) steel cable. The steel cable weighs around 30 kilograms per metre (20 pounds per foot), whereas the Kevlar cable only weighs 6 kg per metre (4 pounds per foot). Anchor cables for offshore oil drilling rigs and reinforcement fibres for automotive tires are both made of Kevlar. Bulletproof vests, jackets, and raincoats are also made from Kevlar, which is woven into a strong fabric.

Ques. Is the fabric made of polyamide breathable? (2 marks)

Ans. No, it's almost the opposite of breathable. Nylon is the most prevalent polyamide fabric, which was originally developed for parachutes and ropes but is now commonly used for windbreakers and umbrellas. Some weaves or nylon blends may be marginally more breathable, but the answer is no in general.

Ques. What does aliphatic polyamide mean? (2 marks)

Ans. Aliphatic polyamides (PAs), often known as nylons, are a type of thermoplastic polymer in which the amide repeat linkage is present in the polymer backbone. Polyamides were developed by Carothers and other DuPont chemists in the 1930s and 1939. Polyamides are polymers with a repeating amide bond, -CO-NH-. Polyamides are naturally occurring polymers that include proteins. The number of carbon atoms in the repeating unit determines the nomenclature for linear, aliphatic polyamides (nylons).

Ques. What exactly is PA 12?  (2 marks)

Ans. PA 12 is a nylon polymer with the formula [(CH2)11C(O)NH] n, sometimes known as Nylon 12. It is made up of 12-carbon w-aminolauric acid or laurolactam monomers, hence the name 'Nylon 12'. Nylon polymers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It has mechanical qualities like nylon 6 and nylon 66, such as hardness, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance. Because of its relatively long hydrocarbon chain length, it has low water absorption and density (1.01 g/mL), as well as dimensional stability and a paraffin-like structure. Nylon 12 is also chemically resistant and stress crack resistant.

Ques. What exactly is PA 11? (2 marks)

Ans. Nylon 11 or Polyamide 11 (PA 11) is a bioplastic and a member of the nylon family of polymers made from 11-amino un decanoic acid polymerization. Rilsan is a castor bean-based product manufactured by Arkema.

Nylon 11 is commonly used in tubing, wire sheathing, and metal coatings in the oil and gas, aerospace, automotive, textiles, electronics, and sports equipment industries.

Ricinoleic acid, which makes up 85-90 percent of castor oil, is used in the chemical process to manufacture Nylon 11.

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CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.

Draw the structures of optical isomers of: 
(i) \([Cr(C_2O_4)_3]^{3–}\)
(ii) \([PtCl_2(en)_2]^{2+}\)
(iii) \([Cr(NH_3)2Cl_2(en)]^{+}\)

      2.

      How would you account for the following: 

      1. Of the d4 species, Cr2+ is strongly reducing while manganese(III) is strongly oxidising. 
      2. Cobalt(II) is stable in aqueous solution but in the presence of complexing reagents it is easily oxidised. 
      3. The d1 configuration is very unstable in ions.

          3.
          Write the Nernst equation and emf of the following cells at 298 K : 
          (i) Mg(s) | Mg2+ (0.001M) || Cu2+(0.0001 M) | Cu(s) 
          (ii) Fe(s) | Fe2+ (0.001M) || H+ (1M)|H2(g)(1bar) | Pt(s) 
          (iii) Sn(s) | Sn2+(0.050 M) || H+ (0.020 M) | H2(g) (1 bar) | Pt(s) 
          (iv) Pt(s) | Br2(l) | Br-  (0.010 M) || H+ (0.030 M) | H2(g) (1 bar) | Pt(s).

              4.

              Write equations of the following reactions: 
              (i)Friedel-Crafts reaction–alkylation of anisole.
              (ii)Nitration of anisole.

              (iii)Bromination of anisole in ethanoic acid medium.
              (iv)Friedel-Craft’s acetylation of anisole.

               

                  5.

                  Which of the following compounds would undergo aldol condensation, which the Cannizzaro reaction and which neither? Write the structures of the expected products of aldol condensation and Cannizzaro reaction. 
                  \((i) Methanal \)
                  \((ii) 2-Methylpentanal \)
                  \((iii) Benzaldehyde \)
                  \((iv) Benzophenone \)
                  \((v) Cyclohexanone \)
                  \((vi) 1-Phenylpropanone \)
                  \((vii) Phenylacetaldehyde \)
                  \((viii) Butan-1-ol \)
                  \((ix) 2, 2-Dimethylbutanal\)

                      6.

                      Discuss briefly giving an example in each case the role of coordination compounds in:

                      1. biological systems
                      2. medicinal chemistry
                      3. analytical chemistry
                      4. extraction/ metallurgy of metals

                          CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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