Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of nylon-6, 6-hydroxyhexanamide plays a key role in polymer chemistry. It forms during the partial degradation of nylon-6 and can also serve as a building block for creating biodegradable polyamides. Its hydroxyl and amide functional groups allow further chemical modifications, making it useful in developing specialty chemicals, coatings, and resins. Additionally, it has been studied in research on metabolic pathways and environmental breakdown of synthetic polymers.