Temperature-induced changes in chain-folded lamellar crystals of aliphatic polyamides. Investigation of nylons 2 6, 2 8, 2 10, and 2 12

Four members of the even-even nylon 2 Y series, for Y = 6, 8, 10, and 12, have been crystallized in the form of chain-folded lamellar single crystals from 1,4-butanediol and studied by transmission electron microscopy (imaging and diffraction), x-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. The structures of these 2 Y nylons are different from those of nylon 6 6 and many other even-even nylons. At room temperature, two strong diffraction signals are observed at spacings 0.42 and 0.39 nm, respectively; these values differ from the 0.44 and 0.37 nm diffraction signals observed for nylon 6 6 and most even-even nylons at ambient temperature. Detailed analyses of the diffraction patterns show that all these 2 Y nylons have triclinic unit cells. The diamine alkane segments of 2 Y nylons are too short to sustain chain folds; thus, the chain folds must be in the diacid alkane segments in all cases. On heating the crystals from room temperature to the melt, the triclinic structures transform into pseudohexagonal structures and the two diffraction signals meet at the Brill transition temperature which occurs significantly below the melting point. The room temperature structures of these 2 Y nylons are similar to the unit cell of nylon 6 6 at elevated temperature, but below its Brill temperature. The room temperature structures and behavior on heating of the nylon 2 Y family is noticeably different from that of the even-even nylon X 4 family, although the only difference between these families of polyamides is the relative disposition of the amide groups within the chains. The results show that in order to understand the structure, behavior and properties of crystalline nylons, especially as a function of temperature, the detailed stereochemistry needs to be taken into account. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys, 35: 675–688, 1997