| Abstract: | The structure of nylon 5,10 has been investigated using electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Nylon 5,10 shows polymorphism with two different structures related to the γ form obtained by either solution or melt crystallization. Packing differences may be attributed to a change in the hydrogen bonding system. In addition, a structure related to an α‐like phase can be found by precipitation from strong acid solutions and their mixtures with chloroform. A model with two hydrogen bonding directions is given for this form, in a similar way to that recently postulated for polyamides derived from odd diamine or odd diacid units. Temperature‐induced structural changes have also been studied for nylon 5,10 fibers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2383–2395, 1999 |
