Hydrolytic Degradation of Nylon 66 Pile Carpet Fibers

Abstract

Hydrolytic degradation of nylon 66 fibers for sculpturing pile carpets is investigated in this study. Applying an aqueous solution of para-toluenesulfonic acid catalyzes the hydrolysis of nylon 66 and degrades the fibers. The reduced strength of the fibers enables sculpturing of pile carpets. The morphology of the degraded fiber tips is reported as a function of treatment conditions. Insufficient steamer residence time leads to an agglom eration of fiber tips within a tuft rather than fiber degradation, and results in a rougher tactile feel. The first-order kinetic parameters reported in the literature are used in conjunction with a simple, one-dimensional, unsteady-state heat conduction model to represent the sculpturing process. The extents of degradation predicted for the longer treatment times agree with experimentally measured values.