Traditional materials such as wood and cotton exist in nature while nylon does not. A nylon polymer is made by reacting together two fairly large molecules using heat around 545°F and pressure from an industrial-strength kettle. When the molecules combine, they fuse together to make an even larger molecule. This large polymer is the most common type of nylon—known as nylon-6,6 which contains six carbon atoms. With a similar process, other nylon types are made by reacting different starting chemicals.
Nylon was first invented in 1931 by an organic chemist called Wallace H. Carothers working for Dupont®. It was manufactured after a long period of research by a team of chemists and researchers to develop a new fiber that can replac silk. Nylon stockings were first shown to the public by the American Dupont company at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. By 1969 DuPont had invented seventy different types of nylons. In 2005 Nylon even landed on Saturn’s moon, Titan.
There is a long story behind the name Nylon – you can read about it here. The short story is that it is a contraction of the name of the two world-famous cities- New York and London.
Nylon fabric is one of the most commonly used fabric in the world and is very versatile. Some of the common qualities of Nylon include the following characteristics.
Nylon is very strong and resilient
Nylon is very durable and lasts a long time
Nylon is abrasion resistant and does not tear easily
Nylon is lightweight
It is not damaged by most chemicals/alcohols or perspiration or oils
Nylon takes color dyes very well and the color does not fade easily
The Nylon fiber is soft and lustrous and smooth in surface
Nylon is easy to maintain – dirt does not cling to the surface- and is machine washable.
Nylon fabric dries fast
Nylon does not shrink or stretch through washing
Nylon does not absorb moisture as much as other synthetic fibers
Nylon has low permeability so can retain warmth
Nylon has elasticity – it can bend and bounce back with ease
Nylon is resistant to mildew, molds, insects, and fungi.
Nylon has a high melting point. (melting temperature of 256°C/450°F)
Nylon surface can be water resistant and made waterproof with coating
Nylon is low cost, though costs more than polyester
Nylon fibers can be spun as fine as silk.
In industrial uses, qualities of reduced weight and noise in Nylon is highly valued
