Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.38, No.1, 41-52, 2000
Structure and morphology of nylon 46 lamellar crystals: Electron microscopy and energy calculations
A detailed electron microscopy study of the structure and morphology of lamellar crystals of nylon 46 obtained by crystallization from solution has been carried out. Electron diffraction of crystals supported by X-ray diffraction of their sediments revealed that they consist of a twinned crystal lattice made of hydrogen-bonded sheets separated 0.376 nm and shifted along the a-axis (H-bond direction) with a shearing angle of 65 degrees. The interchain distance within the sheets is 0.482 nm. These parameters are similar to those previously described for nylon 46 lamellar crystals grown at lower temperatures. A combined energy calculation and modeling simulation analysis of all possible arrangements for the crystal-packing of nylon 46 chains, in fully extended conformation, was performed. Molecular mechanics calculations showed very small energy differences between alpha (alternating intersheet shearing) and beta (progressive intersheet shearing) structures with energy minima for successive sheets sheared at approximately 1/6 c and 1/3 c. A mixed lattice composed of a statistical array of a: and beta structures with such sheet displacements was found to be fully compatible with experimental data and most appropriate to describe nylon 46 lamellar crystals. Annealing of the crystals at temperatures closely below the Brill transition induced enrichment in beta structure and increased chain-folding order.
Keywords:polyamides;nylons;nylon 46;polyamide 46;crystal structure polyamides;crystal structure nylons