Draw the structures of the two monomers that yield Nomex®.
can someone show me?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramid
Sure! Nomex® is a high-performance aramid fiber that is commonly used in applications where flame resistance and thermal stability are critical, such as firefighting gear and protective clothing. To understand the structures of the monomers that yield Nomex®, we need to break down the polymer into its individual components.
Nomex® is made up of repeating units known as monomers. In the case of Nomex®, the two monomers involved are:
1. Meta-phenylenediamine (MPD): This is an aromatic amine, which means it contains a benzene ring with amino groups (NH2) attached to the meta positions of the ring. The molecular structure of meta-phenylenediamine can be represented as:
H2N-C6H4-NH2
2. Isophthaloyl chloride (IPC): This is an aromatic compound consisting of a benzene ring with two chloride (Cl) groups attached to the para positions of the ring. The molecular structure of isophthaloyl chloride can be represented as:
Cl-C6H4-CO-Cl
Now let's look at how these monomers are linked together to form Nomex®:
The amino groups (NH2) of the meta-phenylenediamine monomers react with the chloride groups (Cl) of the isophthaloyl chloride monomers in a process called condensation polymerization. This reaction forms amide (CONH) bonds between the monomers, resulting in the formation of a polymer chain.
The repeating unit of Nomex® can be represented as:
-CO-NH-(C6H4)-NH-CO-(C6H4)-
This repeating unit is known as an aramid linkage and is responsible for the unique properties of Nomex®, such as high strength, flame resistance, and thermal stability.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions.