Structure characterization of heat set and drawn polyamide 66 fibers by FTIR spectroscopy

Structural changes that occur during thermally induced and strain induced crystallization of polyamide 66 fibers were studied by infrared spectroscopy, density measurement and optical microscopy. Two bands at 924 and 1136 cm^–1 were shown to arise from the amorphous phase and assignment of the bands at 936 and 1200 cm^–1 to the crystalline phase were confirmed. We demonstrated that two different infrared spectroscopic methods could be used to determine the total crystallinity of polyamide 66 fibers. One is a calibration method in which the band ratio of 1200 and 1630 cm^–1 is plotted against the crystallinity measured by density measurements. The other one is an independent infrared method. Crystallinity obtained by the independent infrared spectroscopic method showed good agreement with crystallinity observed by density measurement. Infrared dichroism was used to obtain the crystalline orientation using the band at 936 cm^–1. The transition moment angle of 48° was found for the band at 936 cm^–1 with respect to chain axis. Amorphous orientation was obtained using Stein’s equation. Received: 18 September 2000 / Reviewed and accepted: 20 September 2000