Everything we know about nylon fabric and its applications

Smart buyers have long learned to read labels, which clearly indicate the composition of the fabric from which the item is made. Some people try to refuse to buy products made from nylon or with its additive, mistakenly considering it a dangerous material. It's time to dispel the stupid myth and study in detail everything that is known about this oldest fiber.

Nylon is a fabric created by chemical means., which since its appearance has gained popularity and created a real sensation in the fashion industry. By the way, polyester appeared much later.

The modern clothing industry uses fabrics made from it not only in hosiery, but also for sewing clothes: both adults and children. Modern materials are used with great success in tourist equipment and the production of parachutes.

How did nylon come about?

In the lull between the two world wars of the last century, there was an active development of science and technology, including in the chemical technology sector.

In 1935, a chemist Wallace Hume Carothers, an employee of the DuPont chemical laboratory, synthesized a 66-monopolymer. When studying it, the possibility of obtaining a particularly thin and strong thread was revealed, and, as a result, it was developed fabric with special strength and weight characteristics. In 1938, DuPont introduced a new material called nylon.

Interesting! A little later, Wallace Hume Carothers discovered polymers such as polyester and neoprene.

George Grace's team got to work and customers were presented with replacements for women's silk stockings, natural bristles for toothbrushes and excellent parachute fabric. Patriotic Americans even made a special national flag from durable and damage-resistant material, with which they carried out the lunar expedition.

Principles of material manufacturing technology

1. In the process of a chemical reaction, by mixing reagents and heating, a substance is obtained that has thermoplastic properties.
2. It is melted and, pressing through special partitions with a large number of microscopic holes, polyamide threads are obtained.
3. They are then drawn out, passed through a cooling zone, twisted and wound onto bobbins.

The basis for the manufacture of nylon fabric has been obtained; the fiber is used to create products on knitting or weaving machines - both independently and in a mixture with natural or artificial threads.

Description of fabric characteristics

The resulting canvas is universal and multifunctional.

What it looks like, properties

Nylon fabrics are very pleasant to wear; if you stroke them with your hand, you can feel the delicate and smooth surface structure. It looks like natural silk, but is much cheaper.

Among the main properties are:

1. Nylon is very light and durable. Comparing the weight of silk and nylon fabric, you can find a difference of 25-30%, and synthetic fabric is very difficult to tear. These qualities were used back in the war years of 1941-1945 for the needs of the front.
2. The sliding properties are very high: due to the low coefficient of friction.
3. Good wear resistance. It is used for a long time, retains color, does not wear out. The fabric can withstand multiple washing cycles, dries instantly and does not lose its shape at all.
4. It is poorly wetted and does not dissolve at all in most chemical solutions and reagents.
5. Practicality. It is not impregnated with liquids, is not subject to caking, simply smoothes out, does not decompose, is not subject to rotting, and insects cannot harm it in any way.

Composition and features of the material

Nylon belongs to the group of polyamides, which are produced by processing organic raw materials such as oil, natural gas and coal. The material has all the properties inherent in products made from polyamides.

Strength, density

The density of nylon thread is usually measured in dens (den). This value expresses how many grams 9 km of fiber weighs. Thus, 40 denier on the package means that this product is 2 times heavier and denser than a 20 denier product.

In textile production there is a measurement in tex. Here the weight of 1 km of thread is compared. One tex expresses the density of the fiber at which 1 km of its length weighs 1 g.

Pros and cons of nylon

Good sides of the fabric:

1. Quality. The material is not subject to shedding or fading.
2. No special storage conditions are needed, does not wrinkle, does not need ironing, washes well, does not require hot water and dries well.
3. Retains the shape of the product, there is no need to be afraid of deformation and stretching, it fits well on the figure.
4. Although the nylon fabric is very thin, it is windproof and protects very well from bad weather.
5. The fabric can be dyed easily. The pigment can be added to the molten source material at the filament manufacturing stage.
6. Affordability. Nylon is produced on an industrial scale; there is no manual labor in the production cycle, hence the relatively low cost.

Negative aspects of the fabric:

• When wet it can stretch a lot, so you need to dry it on a flat surface.
• When exposed to high temperatures, it may melt and change shape.
• The skin in pure nylon clothing does not breathe. But there are many modifications in which this negative side is reduced.

Important! The main advantages of nylon fabrics are their strength, lightness and wear resistance.

Does it get wet or not?

As is known, the fiber is not wetted by water, but the fabric is in any case an interlacing of threads; with prolonged exposure to water, leaks can occur.

Coated nylon is used to produce umbrellas, canopies, awnings, tents, backpacks and other travel equipment.

By the way! Fabrics are given water-repellent properties by impregnating them with special compounds.

Melting point of nylon

Polyamide fiber is not subject to combustion, it melts without emitting a smell, a soft ball forms at the end of the thread.

The physical properties of this polymer are much better than the properties of some metals. Nylon has an incredible combination of qualities: it is durable, resistant to relatively high temperatures, and also resistant to most chemicals. It is one of the polymers called "engineered thermoplastics".

Reference. If we consider the melting point, it increases from 178 ° C for nylon-12 to 260 ° C for nylon-6,6.

Something about the safety of using fabric

As already indicated, The positive side of nylon is its hypoallergenicity. It is used in sewing linen for both adults and children. But there is an opinion that, as a synthetic material, it can cause irritation. To refute or confirm this accusation, you should try to wear a product made from it.

Yes, nylon is of chemical origin, but this does not mean that it is made from toxic and poisonous components. Like any natural material, it is created through synthesis, but not natural, but in production.

When mixing nylon and natural fibers, the result is fabric with improved characteristics. Additives extend the time of use of natural fabrics, help products not lose their shape, prevent wrinkles and allow you to avoid wasting time on ironing.

Nylon is not classified as a hazardous material. As when purchasing any product, you should look at the label to see what it is made of and check the fabric for allergic reactions.

Types of Nylon Materials

The following options are available:

• elastane;
• ripstop;
• cordura;
• various mixed fabrics with nylon.

In what areas is nylon used?

Products made from this material are found everywhere. There are subtypes of nylon for household use and industrial nylon. Examples:

1. Nylon hosiery, swimwear, casual wear for adults and children, a wide range of underwear.
2. A lot of textiles are found in interior solutions: curtains and tulle, bedspreads, capes and tablecloths.
3. The equipment of a professional tourist includes products made of nylon by more than 75%. All outer fabric and lining in outdoor gear almost always has a nylon backing.. Durable fabric - cordura - is used for sewing jackets, trousers and shoes with increased requirements for wear resistance. The most prestigious and high-quality backpacks are made from reinforced nylon fabrics. Tents are made using these materials. Ropes for climbers cannot do without it either.

This is interesting! Cordura fabric is not made using the whole fiber. It is cut into pieces and twisted, thereby increasing the strength of the material.

Nylon in its pure form is practically not used in industry.. To enhance strength, it is combined with fiberglass and other materials. From bushings and liners to airbags, the product line is quite extensive. Nylon has found use in electronics, packaging, and even in the manufacture of musical instruments, particularly guitar strings.

Features of caring for fabric products

Things made of nylon will already last a long time, and if you follow the care tips, the service life will increase even more. Necessary:

1. Wash in water up to 30°C manually in a washing machine.
2. Use powders without active and bleaching ingredients.
3. Squeeze by hand or at very low speed.
4. Dry in the shade.
5. Iron only when absolutely necessary, at low temperatures.
6. Wash white and colored items separately.

Nylon is a versatile material that has worthy of its position since the first quarter of the twentieth century. As a result of chemical research, an outstanding result was obtained, the result of which is a fabric with many properties that make it possible to use it in completely different areas of industrial production.