Although polyamide is frequently connected to the world of synthetic fabrics, it differs from other typical man-made materials in that it is more. Polyamide surprisingly has the ability to mimic the properties of natural fabrics, while many synthetics can feel stiff or artificial.
Because of its reputation for drying quickly, this fabric is perfect for clothing that needs to remain comfy all day. In contrast to certain synthetic materials, polyamide facilitates air circulation, thereby enabling the skin to "breathe" and mitigating the stuffy sensation commonly linked to synthetic materials.
The ability of polyamide to resist wrinkles is another noteworthy quality. This makes it a sensible option for people who are constantly on the go because it implies that your clothes can keep their smooth, new appearance with little effort. Polyamide provides the ease of synthetic fabrics with a level of comfort that can rival that of natural materials, whether it is used for everyday clothing or athletic wear.
- History of the appearance of fabric
- Polyamide production
- Properties of polyamide
- Advantages of polyamide
- Disadvantages of polyamide
- Types of fabrics
- Nylon
- Nylon
- Jordan
- Elastane
- VelSoft
- Taslan
- Anid
- Tactel
- Polyamide filter fabric
- Application of polyamide
- How to care for items made of polyamide fabric
- Video on the topic
- Polyamide, hygroscopicity
- Polyamide versus polyester. Testing with an adjuster, as well as static load. Crash test review.
- Caution! – Synthetics. How to recognize the quality of natural fabric for bed linen.
History of the appearance of fabric
Polyamide is a broad category of related textiles rather than a single fabric. Its first example is nylon, which was created in the DuPont company’s laboratory at the turn of the 20th century. It produced tires for automobiles. However, the textile and shoe industries quickly started using strong, flexible materials.
The same company’s chemists discovered "aromatic polyamide," a high-molecular fiber, in the 1960s. With this fiber, they were able to create lightweight fabric that was resistant to heat, combustion, exposure to organic solvents and chemical reagents, and both high and low temperatures.
From this point on, polyamide production was established and polyamide fabrics were recognized as a distinct class of synthetic materials. Additionally, the fabric’s own name, Polyamid, took the place of the general term "synthetics."
As per the widely recognized international marking system, the letters PA stand for all polyamides. Numbers such as PA 6, PA 6.6, PA 12, and so forth are added to the letter marking based on the kind of fiber used in production.
The synthetic polyamide rapidly proliferated. However, it is hardly ever utilized in its entirety. Traditionally, natural and synthetic fibers are combined with polyamide fiber to create fabric. This enables us to obtain high-quality products and increase the fabric’s usefulness and durability.
What type of material is this polyamide made of, and how is it made?
Polyamide production
The development and manufacturing of polyamide cloth are linked to the accomplishments of the chemical industry. Such matter simply would not exist otherwise. Organic natural resources are used as raw materials to produce fibers for polyamide manufacturing. This could be oil, gas, or charcoal.
Three primary steps make up the technological process of producing polyamide fiber:
- Synthesis – the process of producing pure polyamide begins with obtaining the substance caprolactam from benzene.
- Formation of the desired polymer from caprolactam – the resulting raw material is converted into the polymer polyamide.
- Textile processing and production of fabric – the material is first rolled out and drawn into fabric. Then threads are obtained from it.
The material is processed using a variety of techniques, including extrusion, vacuum, injection, pneumatic, and mold polymerization. In the production process, a variety of binding components are used to enhance the strength, aesthetic appeal, and hygienic qualities of polyamide fabric.
Additionally, in order to give it unique qualities, such as flame resistance and waterproofness, the material is impregnated with a unique mixture of acids, chlorides, and other chemical compounds during processing.
Properties of polyamide
Polyamide fabric is a synthetic material derived from a polymer in terms of composition. After oil is refined, the same is then obtained.
Most of the time, polyamide fabrics have a rough texture. less frequently glossy, matte, or smooth. Sometimes people confuse this kind of material for silk.
Despite the wide range of polyamide materials available, they are all connected by the shared benefits and drawbacks of this class of textiles.
Advantages of polyamide
- Technological features used in the production of this material provide it with air permeability. Especially in blended fabrics, which contain natural threads along with polyamide fibers. Breathing polyamide fabric is often used to sew light summer clothes.
- Excellent wear resistance – polyamide clothes made from high-strength fibers are long-lasting and look good throughout their service life. In addition, they hardly wrinkle and dry quickly.
- Polyamide threads are very durable when stretched, withstand heavy loads. They are added to the fabric when sewing tights, sportswear, stockings.
- The fibers are dyed with many dyes. You can get a fabric of almost any shade and color, in which the saturation of colors is perfectly preserved even when exposed to an unfavorable environment. In turn, this implies a larger selection of clothes of different colors.
- High dimensional stability – when wet and dry, things do not "shrink", do not stretch, the shape remains unchanged.
- Lightweight, elastic fibers are resistant to wear, clothes fit well.
- Clothes are rarely made from 100% polyamide. And items made from blended fabrics, in which synthetics are combined with other natural and artificial threads, are pleasant to the touch and soft, do not accumulate static electricity in large quantities.
- Polyamide fabric is easier to care for than natural fabric.
- The material does not fade or deteriorate in the sun, does not fade when washed. Resistant to creases, bends, deformation.
- Does not deteriorate under the influence of alkaline solutions, moisture, fungus, sea salt.
- At high temperatures, the fabric only melts, does not burn.
- The fabric is lightweight and looks good.
When comparing polyester and polyamide, the former is superior due to its superior quality and numerous attributes. Actually, polyester and polyamide share the same characteristics. However, its strength is not as great. additionally less expensive.
Disadvantages of polyamide
The fact that polyamide is still a synthetic material causes some concerns when buying clothing made of it, even with its many amazing qualities and versatility.
Reviews mention that skin irritation can occasionally happen when wearing polyamide clothing. The fact that certain polyamide fabrics can become electrified and have poor breathability deters some people from purchasing clothing made of this material.
Yes, indeed, clothes unpleasantly "spark," attract dust, and accumulate it when synthetic fibers rub against one another without having any natural moisture in them. Furthermore, when synthetic materials come into contact with skin, their effects aren’t always positive.
The following are additional drawbacks:
- There are some special features of caring for polyamide fabric, which you need to remember: when washing, you cannot use hot water or iron with a hot iron – at temperatures above +40 °C, polyamide hardens, creases form on the fabric, the fibers begin to deteriorate;
- the material is “afraid” of greasy stains – it is almost impossible to clean and wash them off;
- the fabric does not warm in the cold at all and does not cool in the heat;
- things made of polyamide fibers do not absorb moisture – this is good for one type of clothing, but bad for another;
- when cutting, the fabric “crumbles”, it is difficult to work with.
However, a lot of consumers appreciate the practicality of items made of polyamide fabric, which dries quickly, lasts a long time, and doesn’t require complicated maintenance.
Types of fabrics
Many different compositions and production techniques made it possible to produce a large number of polyamide fabrics. Let’s talk about the most well-liked one.
Nylon
Among the most prevalent kinds of materials made of polyamide.
Lightweight nylon is mostly used in the sewing of women’s tights, leggings, turtlenecks, knitwear, and socks. This fiber is lovely, pleasant to the body, and simple to maintain. Quick to dry and simple to clean. On the other hand, synthetic fabric stretches a lot when it gets wet and can result in allergic dermatitis.
Nylon
A lightweight, synthetic fabric with great strength. Rubber goods, stage and tracksuits, and tights are all made with it.
Jordan
The material is breathable, silky, soft, pleasant to the touch, and effectively repels water. It is employed in the production of outerwear that offers effective weather protection.
Elastane
A well-known synthetic material that is very flexible and has the capacity to revert to its original shape. resistant to UV light exposure, sweat and grease stains, and cosmetics. You can find this fabric’s fibers in almost anything.
VelSoft
Sewing home clothes, home textiles, blouses, overalls, and children’s pants requires a warm, breathable, long-lasting fabric with a pleasing pile. The fluffy surface does not get pilly, and the pile never gets old. VelSoft is resilient to repeated washings, does not fade, and does not shrink.
Taslan
Warm outerwear is sewn from durable materials with an inner porous coating. This material is heavier than nylon but has a higher strength and better air permeability.
Anid
A particular kind of nylon fiber. Two of this fabric’s best qualities are its resistance to heat and its improved dyeability.
Tactel
High-quality materials with a two-layer structure and desirable properties are used in the sewing of socks and stockings to increase the product’s comfort and wear resistance. The fabric is soft, easy to maintain, comparatively breathable, and does not electrify.
Polyamide filter fabric
The diagonal clear weave of nylon fibers is used to create synthetic filter cloth. It is extremely resilient to tearing and chemical reagents. They are employed in a variety of industries where the removal of sediment and small solid particles from liquids and gases is required.
Synthetic fabrics that combine the comfort of natural fabrics with the quick-drying and long-lasting qualities of synthetic materials are called polyamides. It is an excellent and adaptable option for clothing because it breathes well, doesn’t wrinkle easily, and is ideal for daily wear.
Application of polyamide
This fabric’s unique qualities make it suitable for use in the food, mining, petrochemical, light, and pharmaceutical industries.
Polyamide fabric’s technical, hygienic, and water-repellent qualities are used to make tough outerwear, overalls, and jackets that are worn in harsh environments. They are worn by military personnel, oil workers, firefighters, and factory workers. When working in harsh environments, specialized equipment is needed.
Athletes, travelers, geologists, and others whose jobs require them to spend a lot of time outside in the rain and other inclement weather have all come to appreciate polyamide’s protective qualities.
Swimsuits, thermal underwear, and regular underwear are all made of polyamide fabric, which is elastic, wrinkle-free, and dries quickly.
Polyamide is used to make lace decorations, bright concert costumes, stockings, socks, and tights.
This fabric is occasionally used to make leather goods, such as purses and shoes.
Fibers made of synthetic polyamide are mixed with cotton, wool, viscose, and elastane to create various textiles. Yarn, carpets, and upholstery fabric are all made of mixed fibers.
Conveyor belts, fishing nets, ropes, and auto tires are all made of polyamides.
Rusplast, Klinvolokno, Anid, and Metafrax are a few of the top textile manufacturers that provide premium polyamide fiber and fabrics.
How to care for items made of polyamide fabric
- Wash items at temperatures up to 40 degrees. By hand or in a washing machine, using a gentle cycle.
- Do not use fabric softeners. This can deprive the polyamide fabric of its water-repellent properties.
- Do not spin clothes in a centrifuge.
- Dry damp on a hanger.
- When ironing, use the minimum heat setting on the iron. Polyamide, like any synthetic material, can melt at high temperatures. Do not use steam.
Care instructions for a specific polyamide product are listed on the label of the garment.
Property | Description |
Dries Quickly | Polyamide fabric has excellent moisture-wicking abilities, allowing it to dry faster than many natural fibers. |
Breathable | Despite being synthetic, polyamide allows air to circulate, keeping you comfortable even in warm weather. |
Low Wrinkling | Polyamide resists wrinkles, making it a great option for clothing that needs to stay smooth throughout the day. |
Polyamide is a versatile material that can be used for a variety of clothing needs because it combines natural feel with synthetic durability. Its breathable and quick-drying properties guarantee comfort, and its wrinkle-resistance keeps your clothes looking new.
Polyamide is a great material to choose from if you want low-maintenance apparel or are dressing for an active day. It is a trustworthy choice for any wardrobe because of its capacity to replicate the functionality and softness of natural materials.
When examining various fabric choices, take into account polyamide due to its practicality and ease of maintenance. It’s the kind of material that’s comfortable and convenient for daily use.