Durable and soft polyamide fabric has been popular for a long time. It was nicknamed breathable because polyamides allow air to pass through well. It is used not only for sewing things, but also for industry. In the article we will describe the characteristics of the material, varieties and care rules.
History and modernity
This name includes a whole group of subspecies of matter created by mixing organic and artificial fibers. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the exact date when synthetics began to be produced. In the thirties of the last century, nylon was invented for car tires. Due to its exceptional characteristics (strength, ductility), it began to be used in the creation of clothing and footwear.
Only in the 60s, the production of polyamide as an independent type of new fabric was established experimentally. For a very long time people did not accept it, as they were accustomed to dressing from natural material. But soon it took a leading position and was included as a mandatory component for the creation of light industrial products. Today we meet products at every step (parts of household appliances, computers, dishes, building materials, elements in railway cars, airplanes and ships).
Brief history
Fabric with 100% polyamide content appeared on the shelves in the 60s of the twentieth century. Then they began to produce it on an industrial scale from aromatic polyamides.
For several centuries, this material was the only representative of synthetic fabrics. However, polyamide fabric did not immediately gain its own name on the market, but only when synthetics became more widespread.
Today, natural fabrics are gradually replacing synthetic ones, but polyamides remain popular due to their properties. What kind of material is this that, in the face of crazy competition, does not give up its position? Most people will ask this question, and we have prepared an answer.
Features of composition and production
This type is obtained from organic natural resources, such as oil, gas, charcoal. Manufacturing occurs in three ways:
- • From benzene, caprolactam appears during the synthesis process.
- • From the resulting substance a fossil polymer is formed.
- • The last stage is direct technological processing, where a thread is obtained from stretched fibers.
Processing methods:
- • Using a special machine (extruder), where a hole is technologically provided, products made from polymer compounds are produced. The process involves extruding heated material.
- • Form polymerization, which produces a high-molecular-weight substance by repeatedly attaching small molecules to a major center.
- • Pressing refers to the process of producing fabric under pressure. A substance is placed into the hole of the matrix and then pushed out using a press stamp.
- • The molten plastic is pressurized into a special mold, which is subsequently cooled.
- • Vacuum forming produces sheet or film material. In this case, the temperature is heated until the product changes from a solid state to an elastic one.
- • Product design using the pneumatic forming method, under the influence of compressed air at high temperature.
In any of these stages, various chemical acid or chloride additives are used to achieve good results in fire resistance and water resistance.
Polyamide: material description
Many people are interested in what kind of fabric this is – polyamide. It is produced from organic raw materials (oil, gas or coal) in several stages:
- Polymer synthesis - at this stage, caprolactam is extracted from benzene.
- Processing of caprolactam into polymer.
- Textile formation – polymers are formed into threads.
Inexperienced people may confuse polyester and polyamide, calling everything “synthetic.” So what is the difference between them? The difference is in the polymers used and the bonding of the fibers. Polyester allows air to pass through better, but gets wet more. But both types of synthetics have high strength, flexibility, resistance to wear and creasing, as well as the accumulation of static electricity. Synthetics today are not the same as the products they were 10 years ago. It can be added to natural fabrics and improve their properties, for example, reducing the tendency to wrinkle.
Interesting! Polyamide is stronger and more expensive than polyester.
Modern polyamide fiber is used in its pure form mainly for nylon tights. More often they are supplemented with other materials: wool, polyester, elastane, polyurethane.
Polyamide feels like cotton fabric. To distinguish real polyamide, pay attention to the electrification. If sparks appear when dressing, then you are holding real polyamide fabric in your hands.
The second way to check is ignition. If the fabric begins to melt without any aroma and a ball forms from the smoldering, then it is polyamide.
The third way to identify tissue is more laboratory - immersion in mineral acid with a high concentration. This polyamide fabric is completely dissolvable.
pros
Positive features include:
- • Flexibility. Under heavy loads and stretching, the shape cannot be deformed.
- •Products dry faster than those made from organic fabrics due to their water-repellent properties.
- • During a fire it is not flammable and does not flare up. It just melts and smolders.
- • Not afraid of ultraviolet radiation, under the influence of which it does not fade or lose its original color.
- • Resistant to mold and mildew.
- • Can be used in aggressive conditions, as it is not susceptible to corrosion by salts, acids and alkalis.
- • The material is not itchy and pleasant to the human body.
- • Technologists at enterprises can easily paint it in any color scheme.
- • When washed by hand and machine, it remains in its original shape (does not shrink, does not wrinkle).
- • Highly durable, as it consists of threads, one of which can withstand a colossal load of 1.5 kg.
- • Low specific gravity gives the product “weightlessness”.
Proper care
Polyamide fabric is a material ideal for very busy people, as it does not require complex care. The material only needs to be washed, no soaking is required, many stains come off during routine manipulations.
However, you need to follow some rules, but they are few:
- Wash in cool and warm water up to 40 ° C on special modes (synthetics or delicate).
- It is not recommended to use air conditioners, starches or antistatic agents. Do not use bleaches or stain removers.
- Spinning is prohibited; the product must be hung on hangers and the water allowed to drain.
- It is better not to iron 100% polyamide. If such a need arises, then do it at low temperatures, having first tested the iron somewhere on an inconspicuous edge of the item. You cannot steam it, but you can spray the product with cold water.
Depending on the dyeing or additives in the fabric, the permitted temperature conditions may vary, so it is necessary to study the label before the WTO. The percentage of polyamide in the composition will adjust the strategy: the more it is, the easier the maintenance. For example, wool with 25% polyamide no longer shrinks at 40°C and keeps its shape. It can be dried vertically.
Polyamide fabrics with lurex or elastane additives cannot be washed in a machine, only by hand in cold water. Such things are not afraid of cold, but do not like heat, they cannot be dried near heating devices.
Polyamide fabrics for household purposes are cleaned with rollers or washed in cool water without aggressive agents. It must be remembered that polyamide is a material that is afraid of scuffing; puffs and snags appear on it. It is not recommended to twist or squeeze with force; the water is simply allowed to drain and the material itself is allowed to dry under the sun.
Disadvantages of polyamide fabric
The disadvantages include:
- • Low moisture absorption.
- • Due to the fact that the fiber has high thermal conductivity, clothes made from it will be cold in winter and hot in summer.
- • There is no way to remove grease stains.
- • Unsuitable for use at temperatures above 40 degrees. At this moment, breaking and crumbling occurs.
- • Low hygroscopicity leads to increased electrification.
- • Synthetics can cause allergic skin rashes.
Features of caring for polyamide clothing
In order for clothes made of polyamide to serve for a long time, it is necessary to use a delicate washing mode with a temperature not exceeding 40C. After all, elevated temperatures provoke creases and cracking. The spinning and drying provided by the machine are too strong for the fabric, so they are excluded. Strong manual spinning is also not acceptable. Wet items are hung on a simple hanger and waited to dry completely.
Usually the material does not wrinkle at all and there is no need for ironing. But if the need arises, then when ironing the iron should be in a non-steam and warm mode not exceeding 40C.
Important! The steamer will completely damage polyamide clothing and textiles, so it should not be used.
Look at photo examples of the use of polyamide fabric in casual and outerwear, as well as in home textiles below.
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Technical qualities and areas of application
Characteristics such as wear resistance and strength have allowed the structural material to be used in all sectors of the national economy:
- • In light industry it is used for the production of: summer clothes, raincoats and jackets, synthetic ropes and ropes, sports equipment, sneakers, sneakers and soles for other shoes; carpets and rugs, fishing gear, equipment for tourists, umbrellas, furs, tights and underwear.
- • In mechanical engineering, rollers, bushings, wheel rims and shock-absorbing mechanisms are made from polyamide plastic.
- • In the construction industry, it is used for the manufacture of: pipeline parts, shut-off and control valves, some types of solvents and paint and varnish products, antiseptic coatings and against metal corrosion.
- • The food industry uses synthetic elements for equipment that come into contact with products.
- • In medicine – these are suture surgical thread, artificial prostheses and joints, orthopedic corsets, support bandages and bandages, blood vessels.
Application
Many people are interested in what polyamide is in clothing and what health hazards it can cause. There may be harm to health if the fabric causes allergic reactions. In other cases, no harm is caused to health, otherwise its production and use in clothing would be prohibited. On the contrary, polyamide is very widely used in various fields. For example, for sewing everyday items (socks, sweaters, sweaters, overalls, trousers, underwear).
The material is also often used in the manufacture of home textiles, lace, yarn, thermal underwear, various shoes, wallets, briefcases, artificial fur, business card holders, bags, laces, ropes, rubber tires, carpets, winter and demi-season outerwear.
Polyamide fabric is used to make workwear for various specialists: builders, doctors, oil workers, firefighters, tourists, athletes, actors, etc. They even make fishing nets and gear from it, which are very durable and reliable.
Varieties and modifications
Polyamide and nylon are the same fiber and have been used widely and successfully throughout the world for over 50 years. Their properties are almost the same, both are distinguished by high tensile strength, wear resistance, have a wide range of minus and plus temperatures, and withstand steam loads up to 140 degrees. PA numbers are used on the Russian market: 6, 66, 11, 12, 610. After recycling - 6-12, 6-21.
The PA 6 group is widely used in world and Russian factories. Based on this substance, a structural thermoplastic is made, which has found its place in the mining industry and in the automotive industry. Due to its resistance to hydrocarbon products, mechanical properties and moisture absorption, this component is added to the production of critical components and parts.
History of polyamide in textiles
In the early 30s of the 20th century, the American chemical industry was rapidly developing chemical weapons and means of their delivery. It so happened that the by-product of one experiment with polymers in the DuPont laboratory turned out to be... nylon or 66-monopolymer. After a noisy and very effective advertising campaign, nylon stockings in the United States completely replaced silk stockings.
Everything benefits the military industry: nylon for legs, silk for parachutes. This is exactly what the army sought on the eve of the war.
A few years later, the following modifications of polyamide materials entered the market to completely change fashion by the middle of the century. After the war, silk and wool became too expensive, cotton did not cover the needs, and new synthetics - ah! In the 70s, synthetic fibers completely replaced natural ones: men wore nylon shirts with buttons, and women forgot that crepe de Chine was once silk.
The world has entered the era of synthetic fabrics - bright, cheap and accessible. By the end of the century, the enthusiasm had faded, and now on labels they are looking not for “pa” (that is, polyamide), but for “pa” at least with cotton or wool.
Types of fabrics and their areas of application
In modern industry, seven main types are used, each of which is widely used in all sectors of the national economy.
Capron
This is a synthetic polyamide fiber, white-transparent, extremely durable. Compared to silk, it has the greatest elasticity. Products made from it do not wear out after repeated use. They are very durable when wet, as the material does not absorb moisture. Therefore, this fabric is used for production:
- • fishing line and net;
- • rope and twine;
- • guitar strings;
- • materials for filtration;
- • tights, stockings and socks;
- • parts for bushings, gears, tire threads, bearings in the automotive industry;
- • parachutes.
Anid
This is a variety of the first material, the name of which came into use among foreign chemists. Additional characteristics are increased heat resistance and paintability.
Nylon
The oldest material, which was synthesized in 1935 by the American chemist and inventor Kazoresl. After laboratory research, it was introduced to the public in the late thirties. One legend says that the term comes from the names of New York and London. There is also an alternative version, allegedly the DuPont company artificially created a random word from different syllables of “kaprona”.
There are still ongoing debates about which is better: nylon, polyamide or propylene. All these fibers have the same properties. Used in various industries.
Taslan
Increased strength and better breathability give the material a heavy weight. This characteristic is beneficial for the manufacture of outerwear.
Jordan
Good conductivity of air masses and repulsion of water made it possible to sew jackets, raincoats, windbreakers and overalls for adults and children from this fabric. The basis of this textile is a fabric with a special weave, where the strength is enhanced due to the addition of reinforcing threads to the composition. This gives the appearance a smoothness with a peculiar iridescence.
Velsoft
This is a modern material, loved by designers for sewing clothes for children. The second name is microfiber. It has a velor texture, very soft and fluffy to the touch. At the same time, it does not allow cold air masses to pass through, and does not pill or wear out after numerous washes. Blankets, bedspreads and towels made from it will last a long time.
Tactel
This microfiber, which has a two-layer structure and has all the positive characteristics, is used for the production of special special suits that are used in cold climates: sports and tourist clothing, underwear, compression leggings, knee socks, socks and stockings for muscle recovery after injuries from training.
Leading material manufacturers: Top 5 best companies
Despite the fact that any of the brands tries to surprise the consumer with quality, several of the best brands should be highlighted. The main production of polyamide is concentrated in Russia.
- JSC "Kamenskvolokno" is located in the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. This production appeared back in 1948. Initially, the plant's activity was only in the production of artificial fibers.
- The Termotex company operates in the city of Mytishchi. The main task of this workshop is to produce protective fabrics, cords, ropes and workwear. Alamide fibers are also produced here.
- Anid is one of the leading manufacturers based in the city of Yekaterinburg. It is distinguished by the supply of a wide range of fabrics, including polyamide pile and fiber.
- Simplex NPP. The product from this manufacturer is shark. The workshop for the production of polyamide fabrics is located in the city of St. Petersburg. It supplies fibers to different regions of the country.
- Wedge fiber. The manufacturer is located in the city of Klin, Moscow region. Specializes in the creation of chemical fibers, as well as polyamide threads.
From these companies, blanks for sewing are transported to different areas and regions. First of all, they are sent to leading garment factories that develop regular and special clothing.
The photo shows filtered mesh polyamide PHOTO: russian.alibaba.com
Specifications
It is not possible to list all the properties of polyamides in numbers. Let's look at a few common types:
- • PA6-LPO-T18. Impact strength is 30 Charpy. Tensile strength 77 MPa and above. Breakdown resistance – 25 kV per mm.
- • Model 66-1A is resistant to deformation. Not susceptible to chemical compounds (oil, gasoline, alkalis). Used in the manufacture of parts subject to mechanical loads (bearing shell, gear). Melts at temperatures from 254 to 260 degrees.
To create polyester or nylon, various additives are used, which provide additional data on bending stress, temperature bending under load, and others.
How to recognize a fabric among others?
In order to distinguish polyamide fabric from other materials, remember 4 signs.
- Polyamide fabrics are pleasant, soft to the touch, reminiscent of natural cotton.
- Products made from this material are easily electrified.
- If you set fire to a piece of fabric, it will not burn, but melt, without emitting a smell. After melting, a relatively soft ball remains.
- If you dip a piece of fabric into concentrated mineral acid, it will dissolve.
The positive characteristics of polyamide fabrics are convincing arguments in favor of things made from such materials. They will be a wonderful addition to a summer vacation, delighting the owner with their lightness and resistance to sunlight and sea water, in spring and autumn they will protect from slush, and in winter - from wind and cold.
Historical reference
Above we wrote about the date of synthesis of PA. But for the first time, the compound, which included the base of the Styrene resin, was made in the thirties of the nineteenth century by scientists Ostromyslensky and Staudinger. Using the light polymerization of styrax, the last chemist established fiber production in Germany in 1911. But this material was not very popular in the world due to the high cost of oil and gas resources. The picture changed during World War II. Then a weapon with napalm was required, which could not be extinguished with water for a long time. For this purpose, they began to use styrene rubber as a lubricant. Subsequently, the United States used this property to wage a scorch war in Vietnam.
Positive and negative properties
The main value of polyamide fiber is its strength and resistance to mechanical abrasion. They are ten times superior to all others.
Polyamide is 20 times stronger than wool, 10 times stronger than cotton, 50 times stronger than viscose. It is inferior to silk.
Naturally, it makes sense to combine fibers, synthetic and otherwise, to create a fabric that is more durable. Polyamide fibers in fabrics increase their strength, but worsen their hygienic qualities. It is necessary to maintain the proportion: most often the percentage of polyamide should not exceed 30%. If it is more, the fabric becomes “dry” to the touch, creaks, and over time begins to peel.
From an environmental point of view, polyamide fabrics are very controversial. Of course, they are ethical since no animals are exploited to produce them. On the other hand, polyamide, as a product of repeated hydrocarbon processing, leaves a serious thermal footprint. Its production requires many resources, primarily fresh water. Production pollutes the atmosphere and soil, especially in underdeveloped regions where legislation is not perfect.
It is difficult to assess the harmfulness of polyamide, but it is not biodegradable and will remain in the soil for many centuries, so used items must be sent for recycling.
Author:
Zakharova Nina Afanasyevna
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