Nylon in Interior Design

Nylon in Interior Design

                Stockings or tights is what comes to mind for most people when they hear the word nylon, but there are so many different uses for the fiber that does not include itchy pantyhose. Nylon was developed around the late 1930’s In the DuPont Lab by an organic chemist by the name of Wallace Carothers. Originally, it was to assist in the World War II effort and replace the silk that America had previously been receiving from Japan, but now was scarce and hard to find. It was one of the first synthetic fibers to be created and also one of the strongest and most durable, which made it become very popular for things like parachutes and other items needed for the war. All of a sudden, its popularity blew up in the market of ladies stockings because it was much less expensive than silk and didn’t tear as easily (NYfashioncenterfabrics.com). As time went on, scientists kept improving it in the lab and took all of the great qualities of the fiber and found many more uses for it when blended into other fibers to make them into a better product such as fabric, carpet, clothing, etc. (eHow).

                Nylon is derived from polymers coal, tar and petroleum (Interiordesignwiki), because of how widely available these products are, nylon is considered to be one of the most cost efficient fibers there is. It is extremely lightweight and is virtually water-proof making it great to use for tents, bathing suits, any athletic equipment, and outdoor/indoor fabric (eHow). It has excellent resiliency, upholds to wear, stretches but goes back to the original size and won’t shrink, doesn’t stain easily, has a soft silky texture, doesn’t mildew or mold, takes dye very well, and does not burst into flames, but rather melts slowly (carpetbuyershandbook.com). The fabric itself isn’t always the most attractive when it comes to Interior Design work, and that is why it is blended into other fibers to combine aesthetically pleasing items that are also very strong and durable.

                Nylon is used most often in carpets, making up about 65% of the carpet sold in the U.S. alone (carpetbuyershandbook). Because of its resistance to stains and wear it makes it a great option for carpet that will last a very long time even in high traffic areas of a home or business and is decently inexpensive. Coming in second, it is used as a replacement for silk still to this day in décor, because of the price difference and how easy it is to get your hands on now, as well as being ground up into a coating and then sprayed on fabric or other surfaces to give them a protective sheen. Nylon blends are found in tons of upholstery projects thanks to its durability, once again, as well as many curtains and window hangings because of how well it drapes, but the best part of using it in fabrics is that it is so low maintenance and extremely hard to wrinkle which is a major problem for a lot of fabrics like linen and cotton.

                Although not many think too much of Nylon, it is a very valuable fiber that we use so much of throughout our daily lives. Everything from: camping gear, clothing, fabrics, and flooring benefit from this synthetic fiber that was originally only invented for a war shortage.  As time has passed on, it has only improved and gotten stronger both in molecular form and in its various uses, especially in the world of Interior design.

References

Barker, L. (n.d.). What Is Nylon Used For?. eHow . Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.ehow.com/about_4609375_what-nylon-used.html

Cooper, J. (n.d.). The Carpet Buyers Handbook - Carpet Fibers. The Carpet Buyers Handbook - Your Carpet and Flooring Resource. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.carpetbuyershandbook.com/carpet-basics/construction-fibers/pile-fibers.php

Nylon - Interior design. (2011, February 20). Interior Design WIKI. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://interiordesignwikis.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Nylon

Nylon Fabric Information. (n.d.). Silk Fabric, Cotton Fabric, Online Fabric Store | NY Fashion Center Fabrics. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.nyfashioncenterfabrics.com/nylon-fabric-info.html