Introduction

• A manufactured fibre in which the fibre forming substance is a long-chain synthetic polyamide
• The term nylon refers to a family of polymers called linear polyamides.
• There are two common methods of making nylon for fibre applications.
• The polyamide is melt spun and drawn after cooling to give the desired properties for each intended use.

History

• Nylon is a synthetic polymer, a plastic, invented on February 28, 1935 by Wallace Carothers at DuPont of Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
• The material was announced in 1938 and the first nylon products; a nylon bristle toothbrush made with nylon yarn (went on sale on February 24, 1938)
• famously, women's stockings made of nylon instead of silk went on sale on May 15, 1940.
• Nylon fibres are now used to make many synthetic fabrics, and solid nylon is used as an engineering material.
• During World War II, nylon replaced Asian silk in parachutes. It was also used to make tires, tents, ropes, ponchos, and other military supplies.
• Even though the word nylon was coined, it was never trademarked.

Properties

• Very strong
• Elastic
• Abrasion resistant
• Lustrous
• Easy to wash
• Resists damage from oil & many chemicals
• Can be pre coloured or dyed a range of colours
• Resilient
• Has a low moisture absorbency
• Smooth, soft and long lasting
• Light weight

Disadvantages

• Melts at high temperatures
• Extensive washing and drying in tumble dryer can cause piling
• May go yellow so bleach frequently in sodium perborate bleach