This report is limited to nylon 6, except insofar as superficial comparisons are necessary to give a valid analysis of this nylon. The results of an extensive study of worldwide literature and process designs based on nonproprietary information are presented. It was not possible to examine in detail the formidable amount but there is much duplication. Designs are presented for the production of tire and industrial cord, which is the largest single market, as well as for textile yarn, which is the most widely distributed market from the geographical standpoint. It was also not possible to study the other major product, carpet yarn, in similar detail, but some information is developed on plastics as a by- product of fiber production.
Staple fiber is a relatively minor aspect of the nylon fiber picture.
The production of the monomer, caprolactam, is the subject of PEP Report No. 7. The designs are based as nearly as possible on Zimmer brochures, process articles, and patents. This choice is made because of the wide use of Zimmer technology and the considerable information available. How- ever, many preferences of Zimmer concerning design are unknown, especially for large scale plants, and thus it was necessary to design as seemed appropriate. The older PEP reports' abstracts are listed to provide a complete historical archive of PEP reports.