Nylon vs. Polyester
What is Difference between Nylon and Polyester? Nylon and polyester are thermoplastic polymers. Although they have some similar properties, they have many differences. Starting with appearance to structure, there are differences. Below this post is all about the difference between Nylon and Polyester.
Difference between Nylon and Polyester
The polyester compounds can be thermo sets. This depends on the chemical structure of the compound. Nylon is a synthetic product. It’s made of chemicals. Polyester is also a synthetic product but there are options to make it from plants. It may include some plants and some synthetic products such as polycarbonate.
Nylon is commonly known as polyamide and belongs to the family of polyamides. It is more a synthetic linoleum in structure and texture. Polyester is made of chain esters and is a manmade fiber. In terms of texture, nylon is softer than polyester. Nylon has a silky texture while polyester is more fibrous.
The product of nylon is formed by the condensation of copolymers, Equal parts of dicarboxylic acid and diamine used for the process. There are peptide connections in the final stretches of the monomers. The synthetic polyester is made of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) or purified terephthalic acid (PTA).
Nylon fibers are a category of nylon and can be used to create fabrics, carpets, strings and even strings of musical instruments. Another category is solid nylon. It is used in the automotive and mechanical industry for the manufacture of accessories and similar components. Solid nylon is an engineering grade and is made of the forging, extrusion and molding process. Other types of nylon are Nailon 101, Nylon 6 and molybdenum disulfide variants. These are used for several purposes. Nylon 6 is the most common variety.
Polyesters come in different varieties such as three-dimensional shapes, sheets and fibers. This can change the ways in the heat and when the temperatures are very high, the likelihood of the product shrinking is great. There are woven polyester varieties. They are used to make fabrics, suits and ropes. Polyester fibers are used for the manufacture and filling of cushions, cushions and bedspreads. Industrial polymers are used to make ropes, tire reinforcements, fives and safety belts.
When fabrics are made of nylon and polyester, the natural feel feels more in a nylon dress. But polyester fabrics have advantages such as durability and resistance to wrinkles, which nylon does not have. Compared to polyester, nylon has a good resistance to abrasion, fungi, insects, chemicals. If the polyester shrinks in the heat, the nylon melts and catches fire faster than polyester.
In Summary:
- Nylon is a thermoplastic polymer. The polyester can be thermoplastic and thermo-set depending on the chemical structure.
- Nylon fabrics have a more natural feel than polyester fabrics.
- Polyester fabrics are more resistant to wrinkles than nylon ones.
- Nylon is always synthetic but polyester can also be produced from natural ingredients. One of the biggest ingredients is the cutin obtained from the cuticles of the plants.
