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Textile Development Paper
Since its initial introduction in the market in the early 1900s,
nylon has developed to
become one of the most used cloth fabrics in the world. Nylon
has been extensively utilized
not just to manufacture apparel, but to make other essential
household items such as ropes,
used during diverse activities such as mountaineering and bungee
jumping (Raghavendra and
Atul n.pag). To understand how nylon was conceptualized, it is
imperative to get a brief
background in consideration of its chemical composition. Unlike
wool and cotton, nylon is a
type of synthetic textile manufactured from products of
petroleum. For precision, this
synthetic fabric was first produced in the year 1932 to work as
a silk alternative. However,
nylon rapidly became unavailable to civilian customers owing to
its extensive use by the
military in the course of the Second World War. Just like
numerous synthetic materials,
nylon was manufactured by a prominent fabrics manufacturer named
Wallace Carothers
under the authority of the Dupont Chemical Company. The Company
continues to
manufacture nylon up to date. The synthetic fabric is popular
for its extraordinary malleable
strength, light weight, resistance to destruction and, hence,
durability. Nylon is also valued
for its ability to take up dye with ease, making it possible to
manufacture the fabric with a
wide range of colours that suit customers preferences
(Trossarelli n.pag).
In the contemporary world, nylon is one of the most utilized
polymer products. The
synthetic fabric is also ranked second among the most popular
fibres in America, due to its
versatility and ease of production. However, like majority of
the current petroleum products,
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nylon decays exceedingly slowly, unfortunately resulting in the
build up of superfluous waste
in landfills throughout the world (Kadolph 34).
Nylon is usually produced through a chemical procedure referred
to as ring opening
polymerization. In this process, a cyclic shaped molecule is
opened up and flattened out.
Other types of nylon are manufactured through a chemical
reaction occurring between two
principal monomers, that is, hexamethylene diamine and adipoyl
chloride. When stretched,
fibres resulting from the chemical process become even, thin as
well as smooth, to a point
where they are still strong but can longer stretch. Nylons
strength is derived from the groups
of amide in the synthetic materials molecular chain.
Additionally, nylon has highly regular
shape making it suitable to create fabrics that are meant to
withstand intense forces. Nylons
strength actually made it suitable for use in the design of
ropes and parachutes during the
Second World War. The material is also used in the manufacture
of bulletproof vests, among
other durable commodities (Kadolph 35).
The synthetic fibre is, however, highly sensitive to high
temperatures hence it should
be cleaned and dried out under cool conditions (Kadolph 35).
Nylon can also hang up in
order to dry, making it popular among campers due to its ability
to dry quickly. The synthetic
fibre is highly versatile implying that it is used for a wide
array of applications. In regard to
social factors that have largely influenced development of
nylon, there is the apparel or
fashion industry, and then there are sporting activities such as
mountaineering and bungee
jumping. In regard to political aspects, the key factor that has
led to extensive use of nylon is
World War 2. Nylon can be utilized either on its own or in
combination with other textiles,
but its principal contributions remain abrasion resistance and
strength.
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Works Cited
Raghavendra, Hegde, and Atul, Dahiya. Nylon Fibres. 2004. 26
February 2013
Kadolph, Sara. Textiles. New York, NY: Prentice Hall. 2010.
Print.
Trossarelli, Lloyd. The History of Nylon. 26 February
2013
