Structural Properties and Thermal Behavior of Polyamides
Summary
Polyamides are semicrystalline polymers whose performance is governed by a delicate interplay between ordered crystalline domains and less ordered amorphous regions. Chains are held together by a network of hydrogen bonds that dictate lamellar thickness, spherulitic morphology and overall crystallinity. These structural features in turn control key thermal transitions such as the glass transition, cold crystallisation, polymorphic transformations and melting behaviour. Thermal history, processing conditions and molecular architecture influence chain folding, nucleation density and eventual phase composition, thereby tuning mechanical strength, barrier properties and thermal stability. Applications range from high-performance fibres and engineering plastics to biomedical devices and sustainable composites, reflecting the global significance of tailoring polyamide structure–property relationships for demanding environments.
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Structural Properties and Thermal Behavior of Polyamides publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in structural properties and thermal behavior of polyamides across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Crystallinity: The proportion of polymer chains organised into ordered, repeating lamellar structures within a sample.
Glass transition temperature (Tg): The temperature at which the amorphous regions of a polymer transition from a rigid, glassy state to a more mobile, rubbery state.
Polymorphism: The ability of a polymer to crystallise in more than one distinct crystalline form, each with its own unit cell and hydrogen-bonding pattern.
Nucleation: The initial stage of crystallisation in which small ordered clusters form within the amorphous matrix, serving as seeds for further crystal growth.
Hydrogen bond: A directional intermolecular interaction between N–H and C=O groups in polyamide chains that governs chain packing and thermal transitions.
References
- Comparative Characterization of Hot-Pressed Polyamide 11 and 12: Mechanical, Thermal and Durability Properties. Polymers (2021).
- Aliphatic polyamides (nylons): Interplay between hydrogen bonds and crystalline structures, polymorphic transitions and crystallization. Polymer Crystallization (2021).
- Homogeneous nucleation in polyamide 66, a two-stage process as revealed by combined nanocalorimetry and IR spectroscopy. Colloid and Polymer Science (2022).
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