Nov 21, 2017 Club meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 When you see this, what do you think it is? The spring of a mattress? Chains? Threads?
Well.. they're all good guesses but are all incorrect!

portable microscope

portable microscope

It turns out, these are nylon polymers connected to create stockings!!!

Believe it or not, nylon comes from petroleum, just like how asphalt also comes from it. It is not only sturdy but also flexible! 

 

 

 

The "chain" like nylon polymers are actually extremely flexible despite its appearance! When I stretched it, I observed the polymers bending to oval-like shapes!

 

 

A little background history: The nylon stockings were created in 1939 and were also used in World War II for manufacturing tents and parachutes! The stockings were also big in popularity during the mid-twentieth century.
The Polyamide is actually very thermal and chemical resistant.

 

Personally, I wonder whether this polymer could return to benefit the world when it returns back into the environment, rather than further harming it because of its incapability of decomposing for a long time. I also find this quite ironic because this polymer comes from petroleum, a NATURAL resource, yet harms nature when it is returned.