Nylon is a synthetic polymer made from petroleum, which means that it is composed of a long chain of carbon-based molecules called monomers. The process of making nylon involves reacting carbon-based chemicals found in coal and petroleum in a high-pressure, heated environment, which forms a large polymer in the form of a sheet of nylon. This sheet is then broken into chips, melted, and drawn through a mechanical spinneret to produce individual fibers that are woven into fabric. Nylon polymers are composed of polyamide, which are repeating units linked by amide links. There are different types of nylon, but most of them are derived from polyamide monomers that are extracted from crude oil. The first nylon, nylon 66, was synthesized in 1935 by Wallace Hume Carothers at DuPonts research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station. Nylon is used to make a variety of different types of apparel and consumer goods, including swimwear, activewear, innerwear, hosiery products, and stockings. It is also used in the manufacturing of ropes, fishing nets, mosquito nets, machine screws, gun parts, food packaging, toothbrushes, and hundreds of other applications.