Wool and sink were known to polymers with the \(-CONH-\) peptide linkage

Experiments with amines and carboxylic acids led to discovery of Nylon

Reaction of diamines and dicarboxylic acids formed a polymer chain

Research aimed at finding a strong, heat resistant fibre

Aromatic polyamides seemed to be good candidates

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  Rigid polymer chain

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  High ratio of carbon to hydrogen would need alot of oxygen to ignite

Kevlar is an aramid fibre

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  Fire resistant, very strong, and flexible

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  Low density due to atoms it is composed of

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  Rigid linear molecules line up in parallel, bonded with hydrogen bonds

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    Gives rise to sheets of molecules

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    Sheets will stack around a fibre to give an almost perfect structure