Nylon rope is damaged by which chemical type?

Nylon rope is damaged by which chemical type?

• A. Bases
• B. Water
• C. Acid
• D. Heat

Answer: (C)

Nylon rope is a polyamide, so its backbone contains amide bonds that can be broken by hydrolysis. Acids catalyze this hydrolysis, making the amide bonds more susceptible to attack by water and leading to chain scission. That breakdown weakens the rope’s strength much more than simple moisture or heat alone, which is why acid exposure is the most damaging chemical type for nylon. While water and heat can affect nylon as well, and bases can also promote hydrolysis under certain conditions, acids are the primary chemical agent that accelerates degradation in nylon rope.

Nylon rope is a polyamide, so its backbone contains amide bonds that can be broken by hydrolysis. Acids catalyze this hydrolysis, making the amide bonds more susceptible to attack by water and leading to chain scission. That breakdown weakens the rope’s strength much more than simple moisture or heat alone, which is why acid exposure is the most damaging chemical type for nylon. While water and heat can affect nylon as well, and bases can also promote hydrolysis under certain conditions, acids are the primary chemical agent that accelerates degradation in nylon rope.