FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Nylon The Wonder Polymer
Quiz about Nylon The Wonder Polymer

Nylon -The Wonder Polymer Trivia Quiz


Nylon is one of the oldest and most versatile of the synthetic polymers. How much do you know about this amazing substance?

A multiple-choice quiz by kaldav. Estimated time: 4 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Science Trivia
  6. »
  7. Chemistry
  8. »
  9. Specific Chemicals and Compounds

Author
kaldav
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
260,161
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
831
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Synthetic fibres are a part of our everyday life. Which synthetic fibre was discovered first? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Who is credited with the discovery of nylon? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. One of the main chemicals used to produce modern nylon 6,6 is Hexamethylene Diamine, what is the other? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What mass-produced consumer product was nylon first used for? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What natural fibre was nylon initially developed to replace? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In which company's labs was nylon invented? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Where was the original pilot plant to produce nylon built?


Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What is the majority of nylon fibre used for today? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What method is used to produce nylon products? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. During the first 5 years of production, what was a major portion of nylon fibre used for? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Synthetic fibres are a part of our everyday life. Which synthetic fibre was discovered first?

Answer: Polyester

Even though Rayon was first introduced at the end of the 19th century it is not considered a true synthetic fibre as it is derived from naturally occurring cellulose. Polyesters were discovered before nylon and are synthetics but had major drawbacks. They weren't developed to their full potential until later. Nylon, as we know it today, was discovered in 1935 and is considered the worlds first true synthetic fibre. Terylon is just a made-up name.
2. Who is credited with the discovery of nylon?

Answer: Wallace Carothers

Dr. Carothers was a brilliant organic chemist. His original research centered around polyesters, which had just been discovered, but with polyesters' low melting point and its susceptibility to damage by solvents, he eventually switched his research to using amines instead of glycol and nylon was born.

A little known fact, is that Dr. Carothers, suffered from depression and carried a phial of cyanide on his person for many years in case the depression became too much to bear. Sadly, he used the cyanide in 1937.
3. One of the main chemicals used to produce modern nylon 6,6 is Hexamethylene Diamine, what is the other?

Answer: Adipic Acid

There are many different forms of nylon each using different chemicals and formulae. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Nylon 6,6 is the most common commercial grade of nylon used for fibres whereas, nylon 6 is the most common grade used for commercial casting.
4. What mass-produced consumer product was nylon first used for?

Answer: Tooth brushes

Actually the first mass-produced consumer product using nylon was tooth brush bristles, around 1938. Nylon stockings weren't introduced until 1940. Up until 1940 only the wealthy could afford sheer silk stockings but with the introduction of nylon that changed. Now any woman could have the sheerness and feel of silk without the prohibitive cost.
5. What natural fibre was nylon initially developed to replace?

Answer: Silk

It isn't surprising that the material Wallace Carothers invented has a structure very similar to that of natural silk as that is precisely what he was trying to synthetically emulate. Natural silk was widely used in North America for a variety of applications but with Japan being the main supplier and with the growing tension between the US and Japan prior to WWII, a substitute was needed.
6. In which company's labs was nylon invented?

Answer: DuPont

The name DuPont, is usually synonymous with nylon. Even though nylon was invented in their labs, DuPont never patented the formula however they did patent the cold draw process which is needed to produce it. The draw process is what gives nylon fibre its tensile strength by aligning the molecules.
7. Where was the original pilot plant to produce nylon built?

Answer: Wilmington Delaware

Wilmington was the original pilot plant, however, the Seaford Plant was the first to go into full scale production. A second plant opened in Martinsville Virginia in 1941. The production of nylon went international in 1942 when Du Pont opened a plant in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
8. What is the majority of nylon fibre used for today?

Answer: Carpeting

Even though carpeting is losing a little of its popularity, the majority of nylon fibre produced is used in carpeting. Nylon is still the fibre of choice for carpeting in both commercial and home applications. Every fibre, synthetic or natural, have drawbacks but for wearability, ease of maintenance, colour retention and cost, nylon is hard to beat.
9. What method is used to produce nylon products?

Answer: All of these

Nylon fibres are extruded whereas solid nylon components can be injection molded or cast. Nylon is so versatile it touches just about every aspect of daily life. Automobiles, clothes, furniture, machines, the list goes on and on. Just about everything we touch contains nylon in one form or another. Even an expensive solid wood desk probably has runners made out of nylon on the drawers.
10. During the first 5 years of production, what was a major portion of nylon fibre used for?

Answer: Parachutes

Around the same time nylon went into full scale production in the US, WWII was raging in Europe. Nylon was found to be the perfect replacement for silk in the manufacture of parachutes. It was just as light but stronger and far cheaper to produce. It was also used for ropes, tents, ponchos and tires. Even though nylon stockings were introduced in 1940, they were still a scarce commodity and the ladies had to wait until after the war as the majority of nylon fibres produced went into the war effort.
Source: Author kaldav

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
1. Water Properties Average
2. Oxides of Elements Average
3. Hydrogen Compounds Average
4. Baking Soda Average
5. Caffeine Average
6. Act Naturally...Sweetened Average
7. Sugar Sugar Average
8. De-Ice, Ice, Baby Average
9. The **EXPLOSIVE** Quiz Tough
10. The Making Of Nylon 6.6 Difficult
11. Chemistry for the Non Chemist Easier
12. What Difference Does it Make? Easier

3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us