Phase stability and melting behavior of the α and γ phases of nylon 6

The phase stability and melting behavior of nylon 6 were studied by high-temperature wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that most of the α phase obtained by a solution-precipitation process [nylon 6 powder (Sol-Ny6)] was thermodynamically stable and mainly melted at 221°C; the double melting peaks were related to the melt of α crystals with different degrees of perfection. The γ phase formed by liquid nitrogen quenching (sample LN-Ny6) melted within the range 193–225°C. The amorphous phase converted into the γ phase below 180°C but into the high-temperature α phase at 180–200°C. Both were stable over 220°C. α- and γ*-crystalline structures were formed by annealing but were not so stable upon heating. Typical double melting peaks were shown on the DSC curve; melt recrystallization happened within the range 100–200°C. The peak at 210°C was mainly due to the melting of the less perfect crystalline structure of the γ phase and a fraction of the α phase; the one at 219°C was due to the high-temperature α- and γ-phase crystals. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011