Nylon was the first synthetic fiber made.   Nylon was developed in the 1930s by scientists at Du Pont, headed by an American chemist Wallace Hume Caruthers.  Used in the military mostly for parachutes and tents.  Nylon was not available to the public until after WWII.  Nylon is excellent abrasion, wrinkle resistance, stretch resistance and shrink resistance.  It is softer than polyester but much stronger.  Variation of luster: nylon has the ability to be very lustrous, semi lustrous or dull.  Thermal Resistance it melts instead of burning, high resistance to: insects, fungi and animals, molds, mildew and rot. 

Nylon has many uses today:

Toothbrushes, Pantyhose, Fishing lines,  Musical strings, Bridal veils, Carpets & rugs, Fabric, Tile cords, Strings of tennis squash and badminton racquets, Flexible tubes, Basketball nets, Velcro , Footwear and Backpacks.  It is also used to make parachutes, bullet proof vests, airbags, seat belts and ropes. Solid nylon is used for making auto parts such as gears, petrol tanks and bearings. 

Advantages of Nylon in Carpets & Rugs:

One of the most important advantages of nylon carpet is the fact that the carpet fibers can stand up to a lot of wear and tear. This makes the use of nylon carpeting especially practical in areas where there is a lot of foot traffic. Hallways are an ideal location for carpet of this type. In addition, dens or family rooms benefit from the presence of nylon carpet, since the synthetic fibers hold their shape longer than many other types of fibers. As a result, the pile of the nylon carpeting looks new and fresh for many more years than other carpeting selections.

Some disadvantages of Nylon:

It is not absorbent, unlike cotton

It takes about 30-40 years to bio-degrade which makes discarded nylon an environmental problem

Nylon is prone to static electricity

Nylon can have an unpleasant sheen

Overall Nylon is an excellent choice in fiber for most households with kids and pets.  We like this fiber due to its durability and strength against time.