NYLON

WHAT IS NYLON?
Nylon fiber is a synthetic fiber industrialized around 1940 and is the most historical material in
synthetic fibers. Nylon is a polyamide fiber, and nylon 6 and nylon 66 are mainly used for fiber
applications.

It has a gloss resembling silk and has excellent tensile strength, flexibility and abrasion resistance.
It is used in the field of clothing such as pantyhose, inner and outdoor wear, materials for
bagcarpets, tire cords, etc. It is becoming the main material in the textile field.

Nylon was the first synthetic fiber. In 1928 the Dupont company decided to establish a fundamental research
program. If anything was discovered it would be good for the company - a means of diversification.
It was noticed that when a glass rod was taken out of one of the polyester stills the solution adhering to it
stretched out into a solid filament. The filament could be stretched ever further and it did not go back to its
original length. The term nylon was chosen for the fiber and it was called the miracle fiber for several years.
The first nylon was referred to as type 6,6.
 Nylon 6, 6 is a linear condensation polymer made from hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid. Specific
amounts of the two chemicals are combined in solution to form nylon salt. This salt is purified,
polymerized, extruded in ribbon form, and chipped into small flakes or pellets. These flakes or pellets are
melted and extruded through a spinneret into cool air and the nylon filaments are formed.

 The polymer chips are melted by heat in an autoclave and pumped to the spinneret. The hot syrupy
solution is pumped through the spinneret. It emerges in strands which can be stretched like warm taffy.
The size of the fiber is determined by the size of the holes and the speed with which the fiber is
withdrawn from the spinneret. The fibers are cooled by air blown across them. By the drawing process
either filament or staple fibers are prepared.
1.SCOURING
 Nylon woven graiges has acrylic and wax etc. added as a sizing agent
to the warp. This is a secondary contaminant applied in the process
before weaving.

 In the scouring process, to remove these secondary contaminants in

the main continuous processing. secondary contaminants are
removed by continuous treatment.

 polyurethane blend knit removes secondary contaminants such as

oils and moisture heat set by continuous scouring process.

 Required of scouring agent is different from used continuous range or

bath process. Therefore, selection of the most suitable agent and
processing highly affects the quality of the final product.
2.DYEING
 Acid dyes and premetallized dye are used when dyeing nylon. Acidic
dyestuffs and premetallized dyestuff are water-soluble and dyeing by
ionic bonding.
 In nylon dyeing, the dyestuff used will change according to the desired
shade density.

 Leveling agent are required to obtain even dyeing, and the type of
leveling agent used will also change depend on type of dyestuff.
(Fiber friendly anionic active agent is used for leveling dyestuff, and
cationic nonionic agent is used for milling and premetallized dyestuff.)

process

Dyeing is generally done in batch processing; dyeing is done by

running the fabric inside the machine by looping the fabric. It is
important for even dyeing that the runnability of the fabric is stable,
and if runnability is not stable, it leads colour difference in batch and
 scraped and bruised. If this kind of occurs, it is recommended to use a
dye bath quality improver.

3.SOAPING

When dyeing is finished, it removes unexhausted dyestuff on

fibers and dispersant by soaping after cold water rinse.
4.FIXING
 By using a fixative as anionic polymer, it is possible to
improve the fastness of dyed nylon fiber by an acidic dye
or premetallized.
 In general, fixatives are used medium to dark shade,
however fixatives effect to hand feeling.

 Sometime, fixatives are used for lighter shade, due to

minimalize to hand feeling changed by shade. Adjust the
amount of fixative is used according to the colour
concentration.
5.FINISHING
 It is the process of adding to hand feeling and functional
performance for the final product.
 Continuous pad process is common, required of finishing
process is pad bath stability.
 Functional property, such as add soft feelling, water
repellent and quick dry (moisture management).