This article deals with the heat treatment of nylon 6 fibers in super heat steam under atmospheric pressure at temperatures of 100°C to 200°C and compares it with treatment in dry heat
(1) The rise of temperature in the steam is accompanied by a decrease in thermal shrinkage and in density to a minimum and the increase of Young's modulus to a maximum at about 150°C. In dry heat, there is a monotonic increase in thermal shrinkage and in density and a monotonic decrease in Young's modulus up to 200°C.
(2) Treatment in steam below 150°C is greatly affected by relative humidity in the treatment chamber. Above 160°C, the treatment is quite similar to that in dry heat.
(3) Fibers are chemically more stable in steam than in dry heat because steam excludes oxygen.