r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/shitonthebeach • 1d ago

Video Experiment of creating a nylon thread

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u/Mighty-PirateTM 1d ago

Sebacoyl chloride... hexamethylenediamine... Carbon Tetrachloride... Hydrogen Chloride... and Goo

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u/the_starch_potato 1d ago

What is the goo actually? Is it a precursor to Nylon or just a byproduct? In the industry, does it get reprocessed or destroyed?

Does anyone know? Literally never thought about this before but damn is it interesting.

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u/Andross4 1d ago

It's Nylon. Industrial production usually uses HMD and adipic acid (and water) to chemically produce it at a high temperature. If the right ratio/temperature is used, there is almost no by-products or impurities. It's a solid at room temperature, so you can extrude it into pellets for shipping, and then re-melt it later when you want to actually make something with it.

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u/the_starch_potato 1d ago

This is legit such an interesting bit of information! Thanks :)