caprolactam

[ kap-roh-lak-tam ]

noun

1. a white, water-soluble compound, C 6 H 11 NO, used to produce a type of nylon.

caprolactam

/ ˌkæprəʊˈlæktæm /

noun

1. a white crystalline cyclic imine used in the manufacture of nylon. Formula: C 5 H 10 NHCO

Word History and Origins

Origin of caprolactam¹

First recorded in 1940–45; capro(ic acid) ( def ) + lactam

Word History and Origins

Origin of caprolactam¹

C20: from capro ( ic acid ) + lactam

Example Sentences

Otdelnov's grandmother describes an explosion in the caprolactam plant in 1960 that killed 24 workers and never was made public.

From Fox News

It is also the largest single-site producer of caprolactam, which is used to make Nylon 6.

From Wall Street Journal

By 2005, driven by Chinese demand, the price of caprolactam had soared to $2,087 per ton—twice 2001’s level—and Capro’s caprolactam exports had more than quadrupled in value from the year before.

From Wall Street Journal

By 2015, China was producing each month 70% more synthetic resin, one of Korea Petrochemical’s main exports, compared to 2010, while its production of caprolactam nearly tripled, industry data shows.

From Wall Street Journal

Capro was particularly hard hit, with its caprolactam exports to China falling to virtually zero in 2013.

From Wall Street Journal