Which is better nylon or polyester

During WWII, nylon was used extensively by the military and was challenging to obtain by the general public. Today, nylon remains one of the most commonly used fabrics in the world, second only to cotton. Also, being fabric, nylon can be condensed into a hard but flexible solid to be used for mechanical parts, gears, hair combs and other items. Nylon forms through a chemical reaction in a process known as ring-opening polymerisation. The molecules of the raw materials from which nylon forms are in ring form.

But a chemical reaction, usually between adipoyl chloride and hexamethylene diamine causes the rings to open and flatten into curly strings that bond to one another. When nylon stretches, the fibres become thin and smooth yet retain their strength. The most common form of polyester in the fabric is polyethylene terephthalate PET. PET is also used to create several types of plastic bottles.

So is Polyester fabric waterproof? Polyester evolved in the U. By the mids, it had already become a popular textile around the world.

Today, polyester is used to manufacture a variety of products. These include textiles, belts, furniture, insulation, padding, tarps and glossy finishes for hardwoods. Nylon is said to fade very quickly, especially if you used the wrong dye product on that material.

This fabric does not seem to hold colors very well and it is not known for having good UV resistance. On the other hand, polyester has top-notch UV resistance and holds its colors very well.

Even though it is hard to dye, once done the fabric should not fade very fast. All fabrics do fade eventually but nylon will fade faster than most.

The sun removes the color quite effectively. When using a nylon tent, it would be a good idea to pitch it under a covering of trees or bushes so your tent retains its original color and brilliance a lot longer.

When doing laundry it is said that polyester holds up better against the heat than nylon will but both materials are made from synthetic components thus heat is not a friend to either material. But if you look at the previous section you would see evidence for polyester being more heat resistant than nylon. It can take the heat without being damaged as nylon is damaged when left out in the sun.

Polyester also has a higher fire resistance than nylon catching fire at higher temperatures than nylon will. With that said, both materials are used in those industries where high heat is a concern. By that, we mean that those industries use both nylon and polyester when they need heat-resisting material to protect people, other components, and so on.

Then when you get to saltwater, both materials resist salt corrosion very well. This is why we say that there are more similarities between these fabrics than there are differences.

This is another one of those issues that have people on both sides of the discussion arguing that their point of view is better than those who disagree with them. One said that nylon is not as good as polyester in this category but it can still perform tasks like polyester can.

In other words, nylon is a little weaker here. But there are more people saying that nylon is stronger than polyester and does quite well as, if not superior to, polyester. When placed in carpets nylon is said to outperform polyester and lasts longer. Your experience may be different and that would be due to the quality of the material in the products you buy. Manufacturing has a lot to do with how a fabric performs even in this category and one form may outlast the other despite the stronger reputation nylon has.

Each fabric has a unique clothing niche. Both are synthetic materials and can handle rough activities with ease. Which fabric you wear will depend a lot on the event or activity you are about to do. Polyester resists water so it dries quicker making it better to wear when the rain starts. Then one last issue needs to be discussed here. To make nylon material manufacturers have to spend more money.

That cost is then passed on to the consumer. What that means is that you will pay less for polyester than you will for nylon clothing. For some that price difference is a deal-breaker. In this instance, you may not have to choose between the 2 fabrics. Nylon tends to be blended with a variety of fabrics including polyester. When you buy a polyester-nylon blend you may actually be getting the best of both worlds and a very decent jacket to wear outside.

Nylon tends to have an edge here as that material is usually reserved for outwear or sporting clothing. It is stronger than polyester although it does not resist water that well. Polyester usually has a better handle on things when it is used for inside and innerwear. The cost of the nylon jacket may influence your decision but sometimes it is best to ignore the low cost of polyester and spend the extra for a tougher longer-lasting jacket.

But the choice is yours to make and up to your preferences. These are both man-made fabrics and they are actually more similar than they are different. Nylon and polyester both can be used to create nylon bonded thread — a favorite amongst sewing enthusiasts and upholsterers. Similarly, polyester can also be made into a very popular polyester thread for the same uses and in the same way.

When the nylon becomes wet, it actually absorbs the water, and can actually expand by as much as 3. This is where and when Polyester reigns supreme, as it neither absorbs water nor will it stretch or expand when it gets wet — clearly a major attribute of polyester and distinguishing property, for certain!

As nylon also expands when it becomes wet and in humid environments locations, it also has the inverse reaction when it is hot and arid. When it comes down to water-wicking properties of nylon vs polyester, both are naturally hydrophobic a term that defines that they both expel water, and most notably to the outer exterior shell of the garment where it then evaporates in time. As Nylon will absorb some of the water, this will ensure that it will take much longer for a wet garment to completely dry.

The dyed polyester expels the water latent in the dye, but interestingly enough, not the actual dye itself. This dye bonds with the fibers. On the contrary, Nylon absorbs the water and this results in much less of the dye being able to bond and penetrate the nylon fibers. As noted about their many similarities, both polyester and nylon are strong and due to their polymer plastic based construct, they are notably lightweight. On the strength of material and durability front, Nylon would take the edge as it is the stronger of the two fabrics, and with much greater ability to stretch.

Polyester, while not as strong as nylon, does actually resist pilling much better than its nylon counterpart pilling is when the fabric fibers unravel and then create little fuzzy balls — an unsightly look that can occur.