Carpet Fibers
What you need to know:
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| When selecting carpet, fiber content is one of the most important elements to consider. |
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| Nylon: |
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75% of all carpet is made with nylon fiber. There are 2 types of nylon. 'Nylon 6,6' and 'Nylon 6'.
We have installed millions of yards of carpet in new homes and have documented the success and failure rates of each type of nylon fiber. We know that Nylon 6,6 is the better of the two types of fiber.
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| Nylon 6,6 is made from 2 components, each having 6 carbon atoms. Each of these components is more compact and provides better performance in abrasive resistance, wear and staining. |
| Wear is normally translated as appearance retention. Given the same manufacturing criteria, Nylon 6,6 will retain its appearance better and longer than Nylon 6. |
| The features of Nylon 6,6 are: |
- It has a more compact chemical structure.
- It is a more resilient fiber
- It has a chemical structure that results in a harder, denser fiber.
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| The benefits of Nylon 6,6 are: |
- It resists fading caused by sunlight or atmospheric fumes.
- It resists dry soiling.
- It is more stain resistant.
- It is abrasion resistant.
- It has excellent appearance retention.
- Your carpet will look better longer.
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| WearDated© and Stainmaster© are 2 brand names of Nylon 6,6 carpet fiber. |
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| Polypropylene: |
| This fiber is a value-type fiber, most often used in Berber style loop carpets. |
| It is colorfast because the color is added during fiber production; however, it does not have a luxurious feel, it can show traffic patterns within a few years, and is susceptible to oil-based stains. Salad dressings, cosmetics, butter and some medicines and creams are examples of oil-based stains. |
| Wool: |
| This is a very pretty fiber. Wool is colorfast and does not crush quickly under normal household conditions. It resists soiling but stains easily. It is very expensive and generally not affordable for whole house installations.
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| Polyester: |
| Carpet made of this fiber is often used in low-traffic areas. Polyester resists water-based stains, but holds on to oil-based stains much easier. |
| It also crushes much faster than other fibers. |
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| Comparison at a glance: |
| BENEFIT |
Nylon 6,6 |
Nylon 6 |
POLYPROPYLENE |
WOOL |
POLYESTER |
| Color/Styling |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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| Fade Resistant |
YES |
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YES |
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| Appearance Retention |
YES |
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| Soil Resistant |
YES |
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YES |
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| Oil-Based Stain Resistant |
YES |
YES |
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| Water-Based Stain Resistant |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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YES |
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For further information, please contact Barbara Garney by email or at 281-233-4511. |
