Concept:
Nylon-6,6 is a synthetic polyamide polymer produced by a condensation polymerization reaction between a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine. During the reaction, monomers join together with the elimination of small molecules such as water. The numbers in the name Nylon-6,6 indicate the number of carbon atoms present in each of the two monomers used to form the polymer.
Step 1: Identify the monomers involved
Nylon-6,6 is formed from the following two monomers:
• Adipic acid \((HOOC-(CH_2)_4-COOH)\), which contains 6 carbon atoms.
• Hexamethylenediamine \((H_2N-(CH_2)_6-NH_2)\), which also contains 6 carbon atoms.
Step 2: Understand the polymerization reaction
During condensation polymerization, the carboxyl group (\(-COOH\)) of adipic acid reacts with the amine group (\(-NH_2\)) of hexamethylenediamine. This reaction forms an amide linkage (\(-CONH-\)) while releasing a molecule of water.
\[
HOOC-(CH_2)_4-COOH + H_2N-(CH_2)_6-NH_2 \rightarrow \text{Nylon-6,6} + H_2O
\]
Step 3: Formation of repeating units
The repeating unit of Nylon-6,6 contains amide bonds that connect alternating segments derived from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine. These repeating units give nylon its strong and durable polymer structure.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the repeating monomer units used to produce Nylon-6,6 are Adipic acid and Hexamethylenediamine.