Nylon (Polyamide) is a component of plastic products.

It is derived from petroleum, where crude oil is extracted and heated and distilled in refining plants to separate into various oil components such as gasoline, kerosene, and, importantly, a substance called “Naphtha.”

Naphtha is a transparent liquid similar to gasoline, and it is a low-boiling and lightweight fraction with a boiling point between 35°C and 180°C. When naphtha undergoes a “thermal cracking reaction” in a high-temperature furnace exceeding 800°C, it yields “petrochemical basic products” such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, toluene, and xylene.

From benzene, a chemical called cyclohexane is produced, and through further synthesis, it is transformed into ε-caprolactam.

Polymerizing ε-caprolactam results in the formation of Nylon 6.

Similarly, Nylon 66 is created by condensation polymerization of adipic acid, derived from butadiene, and hexamethylenediamine, also produced from butadiene.