The skill of distinguishing between dragon and polyester is an essential skill for textile workers!
Distinguishing between nylon and polyester is an essential skill in the textile industry. These two raw materials have differences in performance and usage, so correctly identifying their composition is crucial for the production and application of textiles. Through the introduction in this article, you will master the skill of easily distinguishing fabric components and become an expert in the textile industry.
What is polyester
Polyester, also known as polyester fiber, is renowned for its excellent breathability and moisture wicking properties. In addition, it also exhibits strong acid alkali resistance and UV resistance. In the textile industry, fabrics with multiples of 75D can generally be classified as polyester, such as 75D, 150D, 300D, 600D, 1200D, and 1800D. These polyester fabrics have a darker appearance and rougher texture compared to nylon.
What is nylon
Nylon, also known as nylon, is a type of polyamide fiber. It is famous for its high strength, excellent wear resistance, excellent chemical resistance, good deformation resistance and aging resistance. However, the disadvantage of nylon is that it has a relatively hard feel. Famous nylon materials on the market include PERTEX and CORDURA. In the textile industry, fabrics with multiples of 70D can be classified as nylon, such as 70D, 210D, 420D, etc. These nylon fabrics usually have high glossiness, smooth texture, and excellent elasticity. When dyeing, nylon material performs well in neutral or acidic dye environments at 100 degrees Celsius. However, compared to polyester, nylon has slightly inferior heat resistance, but its strength and anti pilling performance are more outstanding.
Their main differences
Performance difference
Polyester, another common synthetic fiber, is known for its excellent stability. Adding a small amount of polyester to clothing can help enhance wrinkle resistance and plasticity. Although polyester has some drawbacks such as being prone to static electricity and pilling, these have been significantly improved through technological means.
In terms of mechanical properties, nylon and polyester each have their own advantages. Nylon has high fracture strength, flexural strength, and elongation, and its initial modulus is also relatively high. Its elasticity recovery is good, the fabric is stiff and has excellent wear resistance. Polyester is praised for its excellent dimensional stability.
In addition, there are significant differences in moisture absorption and dyeing properties between nylon and polyester. Nylon has poor moisture absorption and dyeing properties, and needs to be dyed under specific conditions; And polyester has relatively good moisture absorption and dyeing properties. In terms of thermal properties, polyester has a higher melting point than nylon, and it also has better heat resistance and thermal stability.
In terms of optical properties, polyester’s light resistance is second only to acrylic, while nylon’s light resistance is relatively poor. In addition, in terms of corrosion resistance, nylon is acid resistant but not strong alkali resistant, while polyester is the opposite. Finally, there is also a certain difference in density between the two.
Physical property
Usually, materials used to make bags and suitcases include nylon and Oxford cloth, which have different tactile sensations. Polyester has a rough texture, while nylon is smoother. In addition, we can make a preliminary distinction by scratching the nails. If the scratch marks are obvious, it may be polyester, and if the marks are not obvious, it may be nylon. But this method is not as intuitive and easy to argue as the combustion method.
Chemical property
The most intuitive method for detecting the difference in chemical properties between nylon and polyester is the combustion method. Polyester produces strong black smoke when burned, while nylon emits white smoke. There is also a significant difference in the residue after combustion, with polyester residue being easily crushed, while nylon residue is shaped. In terms of price, nylon is usually twice as expensive as polyester.
Nylon quickly shrinks and melts into a white gel when it approaches a flame, making it difficult to continue burning after leaving the flame and accompanied by a celery aroma. The light brown melt after cooling is not easily crushed. Polyester, on the other hand, is easy to ignite and melts and shrinks near flames. When burned, it melts and emits black smoke, forming a yellow flame with a fragrant aroma. After burning, the ash becomes a black brown hard block that can be crushed with fingers.
Overall, nylon performs better than polyester, despite its higher cost. Nylon products exhibit excellent wear resistance, stress resistance, color fastness, glossiness, and are not prone to dead wrinkles. In contrast, polyester has slightly inferior performance in these aspects.
Material related indicators
D: Denier, a unit used to measure the density of textile fibers. It represents the weight of fibers per 9000 meters, with lower values indicating finer fibers. The common strength indicators for backpack fabric materials are 450D and 500D, while materials higher than 500D are commonly used in areas prone to wear, such as the bottom of the backpack.
T: Tex, abbreviated as “te”, is also a unit for measuring the density of textile fibers. It refers to the weight in grams of a 1000 meter long fiber or yarn at a predetermined moisture regain.
TX: After undergoing shrinkage treatment, this is a process that enhances the strength and toughness of fabrics.
RS: Tear resistant, refers to the fabric having tear resistance.
N: Nylon, a synthetic fiber.
P: Polyester fiber, another type of synthetic fiber.
In terms of fabric types, there is TXN 1000, which is a very strong and wear-resistant fabric commonly used for the friction parts of climbing backpacks and large backpacks; TXN 500 is a tight knit fabric made of nylon fibers, suitable for mountain hiking and lightweight backpacks; And RSP 600 is an improvement from TXP 600, with anti tear fiber tissue, further enhancing durability.
SRN 420: This is a small area nylon fiber fabric with excellent tear resistance, often used in the manufacturing of technical backpacks to enhance the strength of the fabric and reduce the weight of the backpack.
SRN 210: Similarly, it is also a small area nylon fiber fabric known for its tear resistance. This fabric is often used on medium to large backpacks to achieve the goal of reducing backpack weight.
MNP420: This fiber fabric presents a metallic texture in appearance, unique and eye-catching.
1680 nylon: This fabric is known for its excellent durability and toughness, and is often used to make travel bags to cope with various harsh environments.
Differences in other aspects
The price of nylon is about twice that of polyester; Nylon has a smoother and softer feel compared to polyester; In terms of wear resistance, nylon is comparable to polyester; Nylon has a slight elasticity, while polyester does not; In terms of dyeing, nylon is slightly more difficult to dye compared to polyester.
Dongguan Liansheng Non woven Technology Co., Ltd. was established in May 2020. It is a large-scale non-woven fabric production enterprise integrating research and development, production, and sales. It can produce various colors of PP spunbond non-woven fabrics with a width of less than 3.2 meters from 9 grams to 300 grams.
Post time: Jun-20-2025