For the nylon 6-10 we used the Flinn Scientific "Mystery Nylon Factory" kit.

Flinn Scientific Inc.
P.O. Box 219
131 Flinn Street
Batavia, IL 60510
(708) 879-6900
http://www.flinnsci.com/

Two solutions were used to form the nylon: hexamethylenediamine/sodium hydroxide and adipoyl chloride/hexanes. The hexamethylenediamine/sodium hydroxide was added first. Equal amounts of solutions were used.

Bossert, R. G., et. al., J. Chem. Educ., 1949, 26, 611-612.
Wittbecker, E. L. and P. W. Morgan, Chemical and Engineering News, September 15, 1958, 52.
Morgan, P. W., and S. L. Kwolek, J. Chem. Educ. 1959, 36, 182-184.

For the nylon 6-6 we used the "Nylon Rope Trick" kit from Aldon Corporation.

Aldon Corporation
1533 West Henrietta Road
Avon, New York 14414
(716) 226-6177
FAX: (716) 226-6919

Two solutions were used: Sebacyl Chloride/Hexane and 1,6 Hexanediamine.

1. Place 25 mL of the 1,6 Hexanediamine solution into a small beaker. [S.G. = 1.0]
   
2. Slowly add 25 mL of the Sebacyl Chloride/Hexane solution to the solution in Step 1 by pouring down the side of the beaker. Do not stir or mix. [S.G. = 0.7]
   
3. A film (Nylon 6—10) will form at the interface of the two solutions. Carefully hook the film with a glass rod and pull the film from the beaker in a long strand.
   
4. Rinse the Nylon several times with water until it is free of all traces of Amine.

PRINCIPLE: Nylon is an example of polymers—synthetic compounds of high molecular weight that consist of up to millions of repeated chemical units that are linked together. This polymer is referred to as Nylon 6—10 because six carbon atoms are from the 1,6—Hexanediamine and ten carbon atoms are from the Sebacyl Chloride.