Nylon 6 tire cords and filaments were steam-and dry-heat treated under tension or tensionless state at temperatures ranging from 20°C to 230°C for 2 hours.
Tensile strength, intrinsic viscosity, specific gravity and X-ray wide angle diffraction were measured. The following results were obtained.
Steam-heat treatment under tension.
1. The tensile strength decreased markedly by treatments above about150°C.
2. Intrinsic viscosity decreased with increasing temperature.
3. The degree of crystallinity increased with the increase of treating temperature from20°C to 155°C, then decreased at higher temperatures than this.
The degree of crystallinity of the specimen melted at 162 °C showed the smallest value.
4. X-ray patterns of nylon 6 filaments were changed by the treatment. The degree of orientation indicated no changes with increasing temperature under tension, but markedly decreased under tensionless state.
Dry-heat treatment under tension.
1. The tensile strength decreased by treatments above about200°C.
2. The intrinsic viscosity decreased gradually with increasing temperature.
3. The degree of crystallinity increased with increasing temperature.
4. In the dry-heat treatment under tension or tensionless state, changes of X-ray patterns and degree of orientation were smaller than those in steam-heat treatment.
It was concluded from these results that the effects of steam-heat treatment on fine structure and tensile strength of nylon 6 tire cords were stronger than those of dry-heat treatment.
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