Nylon production & Recycling plastic bottles into polyester

Nylon Production 

Nylon, often referred to as fake silk, is a synthetic fiber that has become quite popular due to its strength and durability. Nylon is created from a series of monomers, mainly coming from two raw monomers called cyclohexane and adiponitrile. These raw monomers are taken from crude oil and made into nylon fibers. These monomers are introduced with water and nylon becomes a byproduct of these monomers and water. Since nylon is synthetically made it is a very strong fabric. It is resistant to abrasion and does not shrink or stretch when washed. Without flame retardants it is highly flammable but, it has a higher water absorption than materials made with other monomers. Nylon has a wide range of uses in both clothing and interior uses. It is heavily used to create stockings, parachutes, and ropes. In fact, Neil Armstrong's flight suit was created with nylon. In interior settings nylon can be used for carpeting and a cheaper alternative to silk. It is great to be used in upholstery due to its strength and durability. 


Plastic Bottles to Polyester

Polyester is another fiber that is synthetically made and quite popular for interior choices. Generally this fiber is made through oil production but, can also be made from plastic bottles. Taking recycled plastic bottles and chopping them to create a chip consistency is the first step. The chips are then placed into a vat and tosses in hot air to create a harder shell. All moisture is drained out of these chips once they are hardened, as it could make a weaker material if wet. Once the chips are dried, they are placed in another vat that melts the chips into a liquid. From here the liquid is taken to be made into yarns. There are heated metal cups that the liquid drains into to create the polyester filaments, as they leave the cup they begin to harden and dry. These strands are incredibly thin, so they are all taken to be spun and entangled with one another, on a spool. The filaments are taken over heated rollers to correct the molecules within. The filaments are taken to the final spool and now have a wool like appearance and texture. This entire production process can be done within a matter of weeks. Polyester is a popular material choice for carpeting, and is stronger than nylon for this type of material. It is widely used for upholstery due to the durability of the product. Blankets and pillows are commonly made from polyester as it gives them a soft and plush texture. 












Resources:

(366) Nylon production - YouTube

How Nylon is Made (craftechind.com)

Interior Materials 3311: Nylon in Interior Design (chicklyinspired.blogspot.com)

(366) Recycling Plastic Bottles into Polyester Yarn on "How It's Made" - YouTube

Interior Design Materials & Finishes | OnlineDesignTeacher

Comments

  1. INT323-2021October 3, 2021 at 4:22 PM

    Excellent post with good references. I particularly appreciate the diagram- it is very informative!

    ReplyDelete

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