Polyester and nylon fabrics have a lot in common, they are both synthetic fibers and are very popular for sportswear. Because they have better durability and strength than natural fibers, and they can also add functional agents to increase functionality.
But nylon and polyester fabrics still have a lot of differences. Understanding their different characteristics can help you choose the fabric that suits your product best.
How are polyester and nylon fibers made?
Nylon (scientific name Polyamide, trade name Nylon) was invented in 1935 and became famous after being made into stockings. Polyester fiber (scientific name Polyester trade name TET) also became more and more widely used in the 1940s following nylon.
Nylon and polyester fibers are both plastic compounds extracted from petroleum. They were originally created to create a stronger, lighter and more durable material, and later gradually replaced natural fiber fabrics.
But how are polyester and nylon fibers made? The manufacturing process of the two fibers is very similar.
The factory melts the plastic pellets (about the size of rice grains), passes them through a special solvent, and then draws out the yarn through a spinning nozzle. The yarn is made into different thicknesses or specifications depending on the purpose.
What are the differences between polyester and nylon fibers?
Feel and performance
Nylon was invented to develop a substitute for silk, so it also has a soft and smooth texture. Nylon has a higher gloss than polyester fiber, and also has better elasticity than polyester fiber.
In contrast, polyester fiber is coarser and has a lower gloss. But as technology advances, polyester fiber feels better and better. Now, you can find cotton-like polyester fiber, or polyester fiber that feels similar to nylon fiber.
Dyeing
Polyester fiber is dyed with disperse dyes, while nylon fiber is dyed with acid dyes.
Polyester fiber also has another modified material called cationic dyeable polyester (English name cationic-dyeable polyester; cationic polyester; or abbreviated as CD Polyester). This fiber uses salt-based dyes, which have higher color brightness.
Nylon is dyed with acid dyes. It is a tricky material in the industry because the amino acid end groups of nylon are unevenly distributed, causing differences in the absorption of acid dyes. Because nylon is sensitive, it can cause streaks during the process of spinning, weaving and dyeing. Therefore, nylon spinning, weaving and dyeing are very demanding on the manufacturer's technology.
Because nylon and polyester fibers have different dyes to color them, many yarn factories use this feature to twist the two yarns together to create a two-color or tweed effect. If acid dyes are used, nylon fibers will absorb dyes, while polyester fibers will not, creating a tweed effect. Or use disperse dyes, nylon will still color, but not as much as polyester fiber, tweed effect is less obvious. Or do double dyeing to create a two-color effect.
Durability
Nylon and polyester fibers are both strong and durable fibers. But if you compare the two, nylon is stronger, more stretchy, and more durable than polyester! However, although nylon is softer and stronger, it is more prone to pilling when rubbed than polyester fiber. Although this does not reduce its strength, it will make it look worn.
Reaction to water
Nylon has a higher water content (4.5%), and when it encounters water, it can stretch more by 3.5%. So when we wear nylon clothes to sweat or rain sports, nylon will take longer to dry.
In contrast, polyester fiber has a water content of only 0.4%, and it has hydrophobicity. So if the fabric has moisture-wicking effect, sweat is absorbed into the fiber, it can dry quickly evaporation. Therefore, polyester fiber is very suitable for high-intensity sports clothing fabric.
Reaction to heat
Next, what is the reaction of nylon and polyester fibers to heat?
Polyester fiber is a more heat-resistant choice, as it requires high temperatures to absorb dyes. Therefore, polyester fabric is also a popular choice for heat sublimation transfer printing and digital printing.
Nylon, on the contrary, cannot withstand high temperatures, so it cannot do heat transfer printing and digital printing that require high temperatures.
Cleaning maintenance
Both fabrics are easy to clean and maintain. They do not wrinkle or shrink or shorten. But please do not take nylon or polyester fabric to dry clean or iron or dry at high temperature. If it is nylon or polyester sportswear with moisture-wicking effect should avoid adding fabric softener together with washing.
So which fiber is better?
Nylon and polyester fibers each have their own characteristics. Which material is more suitable for your product depends on the design and application of the product itself.
Nylon's smooth feel is hard to replace, which is why many yoga or underwear brands prefer to use nylon fabric. But although nylon is softer and stronger than polyester fiber faster drying easier coloring color fastness better.
For this reason polyesters tend to be used in some high-intensity sportswear such as running basketball soccer rugby etc.
Despite their own characteristics as technology advances shortcomings of both materials are gradually improved For example polyesters are getting softer while relying on adding moisture-wicking agents nylons can also quickly wick away moisture.
Taiwan's polyester and nylon fiber manufacturing and fabric manufacturing are world-class specializing in spinning high-quality fine denier yarns The printing and dyeing technology of nylons is also first-class therefore it is the first choice of international famous brands.
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