About Nylon

The miracle fibre called Nylon was invented in the September 1931 at the research laboratory of DuPont Company. They saw giant molecules of these polymers when they were working on Nylon ‘66’ and Nylon ‘6’.

Nylon is completely synthetic fibre obtained from petrochemicals and is very different from Rayon and Acetate which are made up of cellulosic material of plants. The discovery of Nylon started a new era of manufactured fibres.

A change in life style

In the year 1939 commercial production of nylon was started by DuPont. In the very beginning on the experimental basis they used nylon in parachute fabric, in women’s hosiery and in sewing thread. Nylon stockings were firstly visible to the public at the San Francisco Exposition in February 1939.

At the times of war, Asian silk was replaced by nylon in parachutes. The other uses of Nylon are in military supplies, ponchos, tyres, ropes, tents and in the high grade paper to make U.S. currency. At the time of war cotton was the most commonly used fibre and its uses were more then 80% than any other fibres. Another 20% is shared by wool and other manufactured fibres. August 1945 was the time of ending of war, at that time cotton shares 75% of the fibre market and rise of 15% was seen in the market of manufactured fibres.

Post war industrial revolution

After the war America grew more in industrial and economic prospects. That is the time of starting of Nylon to be used in domestic purposes. When first time nylon stockings were advertised, thousands of women rushed at the stores to purchase them.

American industry was supplying more than 20% of the fibres of total needs of textile mills. DuPont started new production of acrylic which was the generic name of the wool- like product.

Two scientists J. T. Dickson and J. R. Whinfield from Calico Printers Association of Great Britain obtained polyester fibre from condensation polymerization of ethylene glycol with terephthalic acid. DuPont patented its rights for Imperial Chemical Industries and United States.

‘Wash n Wear’ fabric in revolution

New blend was created by mixing cotton and acrylic fibres in the summer of 1952. The term they had given to this was “wash and wear”. This term was used specially to attract the more no. of customers for this new fibre blend. This fibre has very good quality that it is wrinkle free, so it could be wearable by wash only and its strength makes it easy care product. This polyester fibre gave a new turn to the textile industry. Clotheslines and irons suddenly disappeared from daily households. Dry clothes in the electric dryers became possible. The dyes became permanent so new dyeing techniques emerged. New shape retaining knitwear with higher durability came into existence. The clothes made by polyester became more and more popular in 1960's and 1970's.

New possibilities

Synthetic and manufactured fibre production was at its culmination because of continuous fibre innovations. This new fibres have many new qualities like flame resistance, release soil, special luster or dullness, better blending qualities, reduce clinging, greater comfort, achieve greater whiteness and easier dye ability. Some new fibre shapes and thicknesses were being introduced to cope up with the special needs. New fibres were introduced like polyamide which is a high temperature resistance, para-aramid with outstanding strength to weight properties and spandex a stretchable fibre with aramid group.