What Is Nylon (And What to Consider Before Buying it)

Fabric Summary: What is Nylon? Is it sustainable?
When nylon was first produced in the early 20th century, it took the textile world by storm.

While most of us own at least some products made from nylon, you may still be wondering what exactly nylon is, how it is made, and what impact it has on your health and the environment.

This article will give you a brief introduction to everything you need to know about nylon to help you make an informed decision when purchasing the fabric for yourself and your family.

What is nylon?

Nylon, one of the most commonly used fabrics in the fashion industry, is a synthetic man-made fiber derived from petrochemicals or crude oil extracts.

When a synthetic polymer is linked to a compound called an amide, the resulting material is a thermoplastic polymer—also known as nylon.

They are all heat-softening materials, which means that nylon fibers are ductile at a certain high temperature and solidify again after cooling.

This gives the fiber durability and elasticity, making it the material of choice in the textile industry for making apparel, sportswear, swimwear and other technical garments.

Now let’s look at how nylon was originally created.

A brief history of nylon
Fun fact: Nylon was the world’s first fabric made in a laboratory.

In 1935, American organic chemist Wallace Carothers invented nylon while working at DuPont Chemical Manufacturing Company.

In late 1935, DuPont patented the fiber. Nylon is coming.

The first commercial use of this fiber was the development of nylon-bristle toothbrushes in 1938.

Nylon made its debut at the New York World's Fair in 1939 and was hailed as a new alternative to silk.

This was a success in the fashion world, which soon began using nylon extensively to make women's socks.

This is why the term "nylon" became synonymous with "stockings."

As nylon became a staple of women's fashion and grew in popularity, another emerging industry saw its potential in a major event - World War II.

The military equipment industry turned to nylon to make parachutes for soldiers. In fact, nylon was also used in other wartime necessities such as ropes, body armor, mosquito nets and even aircraft fuel tanks.

Soon, nylon changed the fabric world forever.

How nylon is made

 

Simply put, nylon fabric is a plastic derived from petroleum.

Scientifically speaking, nylon is a polymer, which means it is composed of long chains of monomers (or single-carbon molecules).

Its production is a long and arduous process, requiring large amounts of chemicals and energy at each step.

Here are the steps for making nylon:

Step 1: Extraction
Production begins by extracting a compound called a diamine from crude oil, or petroleum.

Step 2: Aggregation
Next, the two groups of molecules join together to form a polymer. Mix the previously extracted diamine monomer with adipic acid. The result is a viscous, crystalline polymer or "nylon salt."

These are often referred to as nylon 6, 6 or simply 6-6. The name is based on the number of carbon atoms between the two acid groups and the amine group.

Step 3: Heating
Once the crystals are dissolved in water, they are acidified and heated, forming strong chains that are impossible to break even at a chemical level. This is where nylon’s strength and durability come from.

Manufacturers use special machines to heat nylon polymer to specific high temperatures. The polymer molecules join together to form a molten mass that leads to the next step: spinning.

Step 4: Rotate
The resulting molten mass is spun in a mechanical spinneret, which separates the fine fiber bundles and exposes them to air. Exposed threads harden immediately. They are then wound into spools and stretched to create the strength and elasticity that nylon is famous for.

Step 5: Spool
The fiber's filaments are unrolled and then rewound onto a spool in a process called drawing, which arranges the nylon molecules into parallel structures. The resulting fiber bundles are versatile threads that can be woven or bonded as is, or combined and further melted.

Step 6: Manufacturing
Finally, the fibers are ready and can be woven or fused together to form a variety of products, depending on the end use. The higher the melt temperature, the more seamless and shiny the final product will be.