Liquid Ammonia Treatment of Nylon 6 Fabric

Desized and scoured nylon 6 fabric is treated with liquid ammonia (NH ₃ ) at -33.4°C. and the effects of the treatment on crystallinity, density, birefringence, DSC thermogram, moisture regain, water absorption, dyeability, and mechanical properties are investigated. The NH ₃ treatment increases crystallinity and density, but decreases birefringence and water absorption. Although α- and γ-forms coexist in untreated fibers, the γ-form is partially transformed to the α-form by the NH ₃ treatment, a result that is confirmed by DSC measurements. The NH ₃ treatment increases crystallinity, dyeing rate, and equilibrium dye uptake, especially with disperse dyes. Mechanical properties of NH ₃ treated nylon 6 fabric, KES shearing ( G, 2HG, and 2HG5), and bending hysteresis ( B and 2HB) are measured. G, 2HG, 2HG5. B, and 2HB decrease with the treatment. From this result, it is clear that the NH ₃ treatment improves the hand of nylon 6 fabric.