Aliphatic polyamides (nylons): Interplay between hydrogen bonds and crystalline structures, polymorphic transitions and crystallization

Aliphatic polyamides (nylons) constitute a family of polymers with outstanding properties and multiple applications. Despite the intensive research studies carried out with nylons, there are still multiple unsolved questions concerning crystallization processes, crystalline structures, polymorphic transitions, and crystalline morphologies. Constrains imposed by the strong intermolecular interactions affect the amorphous state, the rigid amorphous phase, the molecular folding, the morphology and obviously the crystalline structure. Some of these relevant points are discussed in the present work.