Nylon Carpet Fiber

At US Floors, we believe their are several factors that determine a carpet's overall quality: Fiber, Style, Yarn Twist, Backing, and Pile Density.  In this brief article, I will be discussing carpet fibers with an emphasis on Nylon.

99% of all carpet in the United States is made from synthetic materials.  The most common are Nylon, Polyester, Olefin (polypropylene), PTT (Polytrimethylene Terephthalate) and Acrylic.  Nylon is by far the most popular and, in my opinion, the most versatile.  Nylon wears fairly well, which means it is resistant to abrasion and overall wear and tear.  When it is shampooed or cleaned, it seems to bounce back and look almost like new.  It is not inherently stain resistant like polyester, but it can be effective at resisting stains when anti-stain treatments are applied.  The most popular treatments are Scotchgard®, Stainmaster®, Teflon®, and R2X®, and they can either be applied, during or after the manufacturing process.  It is also important to discuss the varying quality factors of the two types of Nylon; Type 6 Nylon, and Type 6-6 Nylon.

Type 6 Nylon

Type 6 Nylon is identified as 100% Nylon, BCF Nylon, or CFN Nylon.  It has an open molecular structure, which means it receives dye stuffs more readily.  This also means that it receives dirt and stains more readily.  The most obvious features are that it is less soft and less expensive than type 6-6.

Type 6-6 Nylon

Type 6-6 Nylon is manufactured by the two major yarn companies Stainmaster® (Tactesse®) and Wear-Dated® (DuraSoft®, ThermaSealed®, and Traffic Conto®l).  Type 6-6 has a smaller, tighter molecular structure.  This makes it more difficult to dye. However, once dyed, Type 6-6 Nylon is more colorfast, more dirt resistant, and much more stain resistant than Type 6.  It is also more soft to the touch.  These enhanced features make it a more durable, longer lasting carpet fiber.  This means it is also more expensive.  While the other types of carpet fibers have their strengths, US Floors Direct almost always recommends Nylon, particularly Type 6-6.

Have more questions about which Carpet Fiber is right for your home?  Call us!

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