Since the foundational work of W. H. Carothers on polyamides, this field has experienced a unique boom. The production of polyamides, the most well-known representatives being nylon and perlon, is currently approaching the 100,000-ton-per-year mark. Numerous publications on polyamides have appeared, scattered throughout the literature; in particular, the number of patents in the field of polyamides has increased significantly. Therefore, a comprehensive overview of the field of polyamides is highly desirable. The authors have undertaken the task of reviewing the works that have been published so far, as far as possible, and to present the entire field of polyamides in a summarized manner. The material has been divided into three parts: 1. Chemistry of polyamides. 2. Polyamides as plastic raw materials. 3. Polyamides as textile raw materials. Each part can be...