Which is better nylon or polyester: comparison of pros and cons

When the first cold weather sets in, many people begin to think about purchasing warm outerwear. For many years now, jackets made from materials such as nylon or polyester have been popular. Initially it may seem that they are very similar. But in fact, there are significant differences between such fabrics. If you know the basic nuances, you can purchase the right quality item.

Polyester items

Polyester is a man-made fiber that is most often used in the manufacture of outerwear, travel bags, military uniforms and many other things.

In order for polyester to acquire shine, various additives are used in the composition. Polyester products are distinguished by:

• easy care of the product;
• resistance to fading in the sun;
• preservation of the original shape of the product;
• quick recovery after getting wet.

The disadvantage of polyester compared to nylon is its low hygroscopicity. Polyester also weighs significantly more than nylon when comparing pieces of the same size.

This fabric has such disadvantages as:

• material rigidity;
• polyester is highly electrified;
• may cause allergies;
• with careless care it quickly loses its appearance;
• airtightness.

Considering all the shortcomings, we can conclude that for the summer season you need to buy things made of nylon.

Nylon products

Nylon has useful, practical qualities such as wear resistance, elasticity, and lightness.

Nylon products are easy to care for, they are easy to wash, and do not need to be ironed. After washing, things dry instantly and look fresh for a long time.

Nylon has been made from polyamide for several decades. Over the years, it has earned popularity among consumers from all walks of life. Many things are sewn from nylon such as:

• tights;
• stockings;
• swimwear;
• women's and men's underwear;
• blouses, dresses;
• shirts, trousers;
• suits, raincoats.

Nylon is often added to fabrics used for making clothes. In its pure form, nylon has a lot of stretch and is not always suitable for certain types of products.

Nylon is softer and lighter compared to polyester. This does not prevent it from having enhanced resistance to damage and wear. The positive properties of nylon include:

• moisture resistance;
• resistance to deformation;
• elasticity.

The disadvantages of nylon include “fear of ultraviolet radiation”.

In essence, both nylon and polyester are easy-to-use, durable and comfortable fabrics to wear. Which material is better depends on what kind of item is made from them.

Navigation within posts

• Polyester blanket
• Transparent polyester film

What can a clothing label tell you?

Sometimes housewives find themselves confused when they see a tag on their clothes; a lot of badges and foreign letters confuse them. In fact, the symbols are intended to help the consumer and give him the most accurate information about the product and how to properly care for the fabric so that it serves for many years.

I sincerely want to help the reader understand the labeling of goods and answer questions of interest. What can the designations on clothing labels tell us:

• Manufacturer of the product.
• The country where the item was made.
• Operational point: recommendations regarding washing, ironing, bleaching and drying.
• Size.
• What fabric is the item made from, percentage composition of fibers.

I suggest first understanding the icons. A crossed out circle, a bowl of water, an iron, what does it all mean and how to remember everything? In fact, there are not many symbols, only about 30. This is an international marking, so it doesn’t matter whether the clothes are imported or domestic - the symbols will be the same everywhere, it won’t be difficult to read them and remember them. There are only six operations for caring for things:

1. Washing – indicated by an icon depicting a bowl of water.
2. Whitening – a triangle with an icon inside.
3. Chemical cleaning - circle with Latin letters. This icon is for dry cleaning workers; it informs about what professional products are best to use to clean this item.
4. Ironing is symbolized by an iron, with several dots - this is a graphic representation of the temperature at which this type of fabric can be ironed.
5. A circle in a square means drying in an automatic machine.
6. A square icon with stripes inside tells you how to dry the product.

There may be one or two lines under the main icon, or there may not be any at all. One line means that the product requires gentle treatment, and two lines warn that only delicate washing, drying, etc. is suitable. If there are no lines, then the fabric is strong enough to be washed on a medium or maximum cycle. Let's look at each icon individually.

Hiking accessories

The fabric for backpacks is chosen carefully. They are resistant to mechanical damage and difficult climatic conditions. Nylon is easy to clean, so it can be used to make a tent. Many people also wonder whether polyester or nylon is breathable. Both materials do not allow air to pass through, so long-term use is not recommended. An umbrella and other useful accessories are also used for hiking.

I. Main characteristics of carpet

When choosing carpet, you should pay attention to the following key parameters:

• Density (usually from 680 to 950 gsm), which depends on the caliber of the production machines, the thickness of the yarn and the number of stitches per unit area. In rooms where there is a lot of foot traffic, you need to lay the product with a high density; low-density carpet is suitable for rooms with little traffic;
• The weight of the carpet is also related to the density characteristic. The higher it is, the more stable the product;
• The manufacturer's "texture retention" guarantee is the property of carpet to return to its original shape after being walked on. The warranty should preferably be at least 10 years;
• Antistatic properties. Due to the friction that occurs when walking, an electrical charge arises on carpeting (especially wool). Therefore, modern products add components of modified carbon, which minimizes static, or use special antistatic agents;
• Wear resistance class - can have values ​​from 21 to 43.
• Sound insulation – from 15 to 29 dB and thermal conductivity – approximately 0.05 W/(m*K).
• Pile and/or loop height;
• The color and texture of the carpet, which affect the overall appearance of the room.

Rules of care

Most man-made fabrics are easy to care for. In order for a product made of nylon or polyester to retain its appearance and performance characteristics for a long time, they must be properly cared for. All instructions for working with fabrics are written on the product labels.

For washing, use the delicate or manual mode of the washing machine. Cleaning products are best used in liquid form – washing gels. Do not use chlorine bleaches or aggressive stain removers. The maximum washing temperature for nylon is 40 degrees Celsius, for polyester – 60 degrees Celsius.

III. Material of manufacture: pros and cons

Depending on the material of the thread used in production, the following types of carpet are distinguished:

• natural;
• mixed;
• artificial.

Natural carpet

Natural carpet is usually made from wool, but linen, cotton or jute are sometimes used. Woolen products are characterized by elasticity and elasticity of the pile, low thermal conductivity, and poor flammability. However, they are very expensive when compared to artificial carpet. They have low wear resistance (class 21), are easily soiled, and are also susceptible to mold and moths. These negative qualities are reduced by additional treatment of wool with dirt-repellent, anti-moth and other substances. There is another significant disadvantage of wool carpet - the product is not suitable for housing people who are prone to allergies.

Mixed materials

Thanks to the combination of wool yarn (about 80%) and artificial fibers (about 20%), the wear resistance of the carpet increases and the advantages of natural covering are preserved.

Artificial carpet

The main synthetic fibers used in the manufacture of carpet are polyamide (nylon), olefin (polypropylene), polyester and polyacrylic. The advantages of synthetic carpet include:

• high homogeneity;
• natural moth resistance;
• good tensile and fracture resistance;
• resistance to loads.

The highest quality material is nylon, it is soft, holds lint well, is easy to clean and lasts a long time (10-15 years). Polyester is cheaper than its nylon counterpart, but it is less durable. Olefin (polypropylene) has good aesthetic qualities and can be used outdoors, as it is almost unaffected by moisture and ultraviolet radiation. Often used to make commercial carpet, which is glued to a rubberized backing. A negative feature of olefin is its high fragility. Poriacryl wears out quickly, so it is usually used as an additive to other fibers.

Thermal underwear

For underwear, 100 nylon or 100 polyester can be used. Underwear should be comfortable and pleasant to the touch. There are no significant differences between the materials. Polyester thermal underwear retains heat better. Thanks to impurities, the fabric repels moisture and remains soft to the touch. It is practical to use, because... does not deform during long-term use. Wool and cotton in the composition extends the service life of the product.

IV. Pile and loop carpet

Pile carpet can be short-pile (pile length from 2 to 3 mm), medium-pile (5-8 mm) and high-pile (from 8 to 20 mm or more). Thanks to the long fibers, the design becomes voluminous in high-pile products. This type of carpet cannot withstand significant loads, so it is best to install it in bedrooms and children's rooms. Short pile options are better suited for high traffic areas. Depending on the weaving method, there are the following types of carpet:

• Velor is a carpet with short cut pile. Can be hard or soft. Wear resistance class - from 23 to 31. The upper part of the fibers of the product fluffs up, so the surface becomes uniform and soft when touched. The advantages of velor carpet include ease of maintenance. However, dirt and shoe marks stand out on a uniform surface. This type of pile is best suited for a bedroom, children's room or living room;
• Saxony (saxoni) is a grainy covering made from twisted yarn. Belongs to the most elite carpet products. Wear resistance class – up to 31. A good choice for halls and hallways. A special type of sexoni is shag, made from coarse fibers 3-4 cm high;
• Cut-loop is a type of carpet characterized by an interesting combination of low loops and long cut threads. Wear resistance class - from 23 to 25. Is a good choice for the bedroom;
• Scroll is a multi-level loop pile formed by a combination of uncut and sheared loops. In addition to the loops, there are single fibers on the surface that add elegance to the product. Scroll has good wear resistance (21-34), usually used in living rooms and corridors;
• Frieze is a carpet with a high and curled pile, giving the product a curly appearance. Wear resistance class - up to 31. Available in various variations: with cut pile, with fibers of various thicknesses, as well as loop pile, which is highly resistant to crushing. Footprints and dirt on this carpet are almost invisible, so it is well suited for living rooms;
• Print is a low-pile covering widely used in children's rooms. This type of coating allows you to apply beautiful non-standard designs.

Various types of carpet can be purchased in departments of the Raduga Home Furnishings Hypermarket. Come to us and our specialists will help you make the right choice.

Why do you need a vestibule?

Before moving directly to the description of the important characteristics, let's figure out why a tourist needs a vestibule in a tent? At a minimum, three main reasons can be deduced:

• A place where you can sit out a bad hike;
• A place where you can put all additional equipment, equipment, shoes;
• A place to set up a kitchen or even a dining room in bad or windy weather.

The advantages of a vestibule are obvious and it will indeed create additional comfort from traveling, but, as you know, you have to pay for everything, and in this case the payment is weight. A tourist tent with a vestibule will be 20-30% heavier than the same analogue, but without it.

Now we are talking about trekking tourist tents, for which weight is important, because the tourist has to carry everything on his shoulders. Camping tents, by and large, all have vestibules, and here the choice is more about the type of construction, awning material, etc.

Comparison

“They are so different, but still they are together.” This joke is very applicable to the materials being studied. They firmly occupy the market, similar clothes and accessories are produced from them; in some fabrics, polyester and nylon are used together.

The similarity of these materials is that they both have increased wear resistance, good strength characteristics, do not “breathe” and you can sweat in them, and also, unlike natural fibers, can cause skin irritation and allergies.

Nylon and polyester have a number of differences.

1. Firstly, these are the raw materials from which the materials are made. For nylon it is adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, and for polyester it is polyester from petroleum refining.
2. Secondly, it's structure. Nylon is smooth and pleasant to the touch, while polyester is rougher.
3. Thirdly, weight. Polyester fabrics are heavier than nylon fabrics.
4. Fourthly, attitude towards water. If nylon repels water, practically without absorbing liquid, then polyester, although not much, absorbs moisture.
5. Fifthly, sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Nylon fades when exposed to sunlight, but polyester is absolutely indifferent to this type of radiation.

Which tent with a vestibule to choose from the whole variety of tourist models?

In simple words - those that you can carry on a hike in your backpack and others that need to be carried by car or similar vehicle.

The word “tourist” is generic for such equipment and it would be incorrect to call it tents only for hiking. Still, any outing into nature, be it by car, motorcycle or bicycle, can also be called a tourist trip or a hike. Therefore, I propose to call hiking trips trekking, not tourist.

First, decide what you need a tent for. If you are going on a hiking trip, you should pay attention to trekking models. They are indispensable for active sports, because they:

• Easy to carry;
• Can be quickly installed and disassembled;
• Easy to fold (they are compact).

If during a hike you don’t need to carry a tent in a backpack over your shoulders, then pay attention to three or four-person camping tents:

• Spacious vestibule of human height. The square shape is more functional than the rectangular one;
• Two entrances will provide additional ventilation, especially important for hot southern nights;
• Accommodates a large number of people;
• Can be divided into compartments;
• Well equipped (mosquito nets, awnings, etc.).

Tourist tents are not simply divided into camping and trekking tents. There are also subspecies that every tourist should know about.

Baby clothes

Synthetic fabric is used for clothing for children of all ages.

This is useful to know. When creating children's items, attention is paid to safety. During production, the rules and regulations are followed.

The use of synthetics for children is acceptable in outerwear. For tights and underwear, it is better to choose natural fabrics that do not cause allergies. The winter jacket does not come into contact with the child's skin, so it is safe to use.

The main types of tents with a vestibule

There are more than five varieties, but only two are the most popular - “Hemisphere” and “Half-Barrel”, which are also called hangar tents.

Hemisphere

The most common type of tent. They consist of two or more crossed arcs, which makes it look like some part of a sphere.

The design is used in all types of tourist tents, and can also be the basis for more complex structures (for example, half-barrels, which will be discussed later).

Schematic design of a 4-person tent KSL Cherokee 4 with a spacious vestibule-passage for a trekking model. Weight - 5.8 kg.

Half barrel

This type of tent can be seen quite often in various camps. This is due to the fact that the design is the most spacious and comfortable of all. But with this comes its main drawback - it is problematic for trekking trips.

3-person tourist tent with vestibule KSL Half Roll 3. Construction type - half roll.

Tourist accommodation option with an additional compartment for a bicycle or equipment:

We sorted out the presence of a vestibule and the type of structures. Now let's look at the main characteristics that are worth considering.

1. Weight. It is recommended to adhere to a fairly consistent scheme - 1-1.5 kg per person. In this case, there is an inverse proportionality: the more people can fit in a tent, the less its weight per person. So, for example, a two-seater design should weigh 2–3 kg, a three-seater design should weigh up to 4 kg, and good camping ones should weigh from 8 kg.
2. Capacity. It is extremely uneconomical if each person has his own single tent. You should assume that a two-person tent is better for two people, a three-person tent is better for three people, etc.
3. Water resistance (PU). This digital parameter is determined by how much water column pressure the tent can withstand. The minimum recommended value is 1000 to 2000 mm, but for modern realities such water resistance is not enough. An excellent option would be from 3000 mm.
4. Waterproof bottom of the tent. Preferably 4000 and above. Please note that not all tents have a waterproof vestibule floor or none at all. If there is a bottom, then it is undoubtedly a plus; if not, then you can buy an analogue for 1-2 thousand rubles.
5. The number of entrances and the presence of a vestibule. A tourist tent can have one entrance, two, or even three. Which one will be better for you depends on the tasks. It’s the same with the vestibule - there may not be one, or there may be two at once. Be sure to make sure there is at least one, because without it it’s not comfortable.
6. Mosquito net. Almost every tourist tent has it, but you should still take this parameter into account. So, for example, if it’s not there, you simply run the risk of waking up in the morning covered in bites from head to toe. Pay special attention to the presence of a mesh at the entrance to the vestibule, since many manufacturers make the mistake of equipping only the sleeping area with a mosquito net.

Arcs

Aluminum alloy is the most popular material for tent frames. Lightweight and strong. Fiberglass composite material. They are cheap, but suffer from temperature changes and are subject to deformation at fastening points. DAC Arcs from a South Korean company are considered one of the best in the world. Lightweight and reliable, but also in the price segment above average. The material is most often aluminum. Durapol is another composite material, but with high strength, virtually no deformation and light weight. It is considered better than fiberglass, but more expensive.

About nylon

Nylon is a synthetic fiber obtained from caprolactam. It is used to make strong ropes, fishing nets, stockings and other household goods. Nylon is considered the strongest fiber among all (it is 10 times stronger than cotton!).

This fiber is softer and less transparent and is undoubtedly stronger than organza. Also, nylon cannot swell in water and cannot become a “food object” for moths. Nylon is also very elastic, cannot absorb moisture, and makes it possible to eliminate puffs. But unfortunately it has the ability to fade and collect dust.

Main characteristics, features and qualities of fibers

Considering the list of advantages and disadvantages, you will definitely choose what is most suitable for your goals and needs.

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How is nylon different from nylon?

How to iron nylon?

Carpet is more than just a floor covering. A beautiful floor covering can give its owner a feeling of real coziness, comfort and homely warmth.

That's why it's so important to choose it correctly. This task is not an easy one, because the range of coatings is simply huge: they differ in both cost and quality.

A wide selection of patterns and colors, a variety of materials and production technologies - how not to get confused and choose the best? Read on and find out everything!

Content

Production Features

The process of producing polyamide, from which nylon is created, takes place in special autoclaves or reactors. After the reaction of amidipic acid with hexamethylenediamine, salt crystals are released. Then, through complex chemical reactions, polyamide is formed, from which nylon threads of the required thickness are drawn.

The technology for producing polyester is no less complex, but it uses petroleum products. After multi-level chemical reactions, polyester granules are formed, which are then formed into fiber. The material made from polyester threads is not inferior in strength to nylon, but not as light.