Understanding the Differences Between Polyamide (Nylon) and Polyester

Hello everyone, The other day, our client asked me, “What is polyamide?” So, I’ll write about the differences between Polyamide and Polyester.

Polyamide is nylon.

First, let me explain why are there two names: nylon and polyamide?

Nylon is a trademark of the American company “DuPont”, and it’s a type of polyamide. In Japan, we commonly refer to it as nylon, but in Europe, it’s called polyamide! By the way, nylon was the world’s first synthetic fiber, developed by DuPont, and there are various types, such as nylon 6, nylon 66, and nylon 11.

Comparison of Polyamide and Polyester

Now, let’s compare the characteristics of polyamide and polyester.

Features of Polyamide

Polyester is widely used in sportswear, carpets, and even fishing nets. It’s highly resistant to abrasion, bending, and easy to dye. It dries quickly as it absorbs very little water when wet (making it washable).

• Rich in elasticity and resistant to wrinkles
• Maintains its shape well
• Resistant to chemicals, oil, mold, and insects, which is why it’s also used in fishing nets—it’s not affected by seawater
• High strength
• Essential for making fancy yarns

Features of Polyester

Next, let’s look at polyester, the most widely produced synthetic fiber.

Polyester is also very strong, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, chemical-resistant, resistant to insects and mold, and retains its shape well. However, compared to nylon, it has lower dyeability.

Polyester can also be dyed in bright colors when modified with cationic processing, but this process slightly reduces its tension and body.

It’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each material and choose accordingly. I’ve briefly explained the characteristics of polyester compared to nylon.