Nylon Fiber, Mechanical Damage
This is a sample nylon with mechanical damage and broomed terminations on both ends. Mechanical stress is also
shown in the distortion of the fiber and the node-like structures running across the fiber.
Transmitted Off-Crossed Circular Polarized Light
Definition/Function:
Nylon fiber is a polyamide fiber. It is formed by the careful combination of a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid or by a ring-
opening polymerization. It is formed into a fiber by extruding the heated polymer through a spinneret. This results in the
The fiber taking the cross-section of the spinneret. Nylon fiber can be round or any other desirable extruded shape.
Significance in the Environment:
This is a common clothing fiber.
Characteristic Features:
Nylon fiber has a refractive index along its length of about 1.57 to 1.59 and perpendicular to its length of about 1.51
to 1.53. It has a birefringence of about 0.06 and a positive sign of elongation. It tends to exhibit a smooth, regular
surface along its length depending on its cross-section of the fiber. Extreme shapes, such as the trilobate Type 1775, can
result in an irregular appearance along the length as the fiber twists or bends.
Associated Particles:
References:
Gorski, Azriel and Walter C. McCrone, "Birefringence of fibers", THE MICROSCOPE, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 3-16
DuPont Company Techinical Bulletin X-156: IDENTIFICATION OF FIBERS IN TEXTILE MATERIALS, December 1961.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon
