Abstract: | Injection-molded specimens of nylon 6 were examined by x-ray diffraction as a function of depth in three characteristic directions. A skin and a core were always found to be present which differed in the degree of crystalline perfection and crystal modification. While the core of pure nylon 6 was found to be not oriented, the core of specimens containing nucleating agents was found to contain a typical texture of the monoclinic modification of nylon 6 in which the distribution probability of the a* and c* axes resembles ellipsoids with three unequal axes. A model explaining this texture as due to degenerated (deformed) spherulites is proposed. With a transcrystalline nylon 6 specimen the direction of the fastest growth in the unit cell (which forms the radius of spherulites) is found to be close to the a axis. |