Introduction
Did you know that both these terms, i.e. Nylon and Polyamide are closely linked? Both terms are used to describe polymers. You might not be aware but these two Polymers are used commercially everywhere in the world.
It is not uncommon to hear about many consumer products being manufactured from either Nylon or Polyamide. Both of these materials can be used in a variety of ways, from their use in products we use daily to industries.
While it is safe to say that Nylons are Polyamides, on the other hand, we cannot claim that Polyamides are nylons. They are both polymers as mentioned above but we need to understand the basic difference between them.
Knowing this difference can help us to choose between either of the two materials (for whatever purpose they maybe required).
Nylon vs. Polyamides
Note that there are some basic differences between both these interrelated terms, namely Nylon and Polyamide.
Trivia: Nylon fiber was indeed popular in the 1980s; it is one of the most versatile fabrics because of its durability and high quality. Being waterproof it dries quickly and its Polyamide structure makes it just great for outdoor, lightweight clothing.
While there was a time when nylon was falling out of the market due to increasing demand for wool and silk, the fibers are reinvented and are all chic and modern, all the rage among women, making them go crazy!
**While Nylon is otherwise considered a synthetic material, Polyamide can be either nylon or synthetic; it is also naturally occurring. Also, it might help to know that while Polyamide is otherwise considered a category of textile, Nylon on the other hand is a trademark.
It also might be a sheer coincidence that nylon happens to be a type of Polyamide. Polyamide, on the other hand, includes a variety of materials, one of which happens to be Nylon.
Again, it is understood that both terms namely Nylon and Polyamide are indeed closely related.
It is a fact that Nylon is among the most used Polyamides. Nylon comes from a family of polymers that mostly comprise of thermoplastic materials. (Also, nylon can only be synthetic.)
Therefore we can conclude that the polymer Nylon, is a synthetic plastic material. Nylon also comprises of polyamides that have a slightly heavier molecular weight. Nylon is not always manufactured as a fiber.
Polyamide broadly covers a variety of materials including nylon, that may either be natural or synthetic.
From this, we can gather that Nylon is a Polyamide but the reverse is not always true. On the other hand, the terms are interchangeable when naming the different nylon polymers.
Nylon was first used to replace silk, and women's stockings were the first products commercially manufactured using Nylon. Nylon's most common uses are in shorts, socks and track pants, windbreakers, bedspreads, and women's wear; it is used also in draperies and bedspreads, luggage, and umbrellas.
Difference Between Nylon and Polyamide in Tabular Form
| Parameters of Comparison | Nylon | Polyamide |
| Meaning | Nylon happens to be a generic name. It is generally used to describe thermoplastic materials | Polyamide is a broad term describing polymers which have large numbers of repetitive amide groups. |
| Nature | Apparently Nylon is only synthetic in nature. | Polyamide can either be synthetic or natural. |
| Relation | Nylon is supposed to be a type of polyamide. | Polyamide includes various materials including Nylon |
| Durability | Nylon is both durable and hydrophilic. | Polyamides are not that durable and are hydrophobic |
| Chemical Anatomy | Again, Nylon has a high degree of symmetry and polarity. | The amide structures of different materials in the category decide their polarity and symmetry |
What is Nylon?
Nylon was officially invented by Wallace Carothers from the Du-Pont company more than 80 years ago, in the year 1935. Nylon has often been referred to as 'the most useful synthetic material' due to its sheer versatility. Today the term Nylon is used to describe a family of compounds that are mostly man-made, which consist of long-chain molecules.
Nylon is supposedly a term that includes a variety of materials. Nylon is produced by melting petroleum. This leads to development of some films, fibres and shapes. The material obtained is often mixed with several additives and this gives it different properties.
Considering everything, Nylon is said to be the first thermoplastic material; in 1931 the Carothers Company made a synthetic material called neoprene, but it wasn't until 1934, that a condensation reaction he perfected paved the way for Nylon.
Nylon is both lightweight and strong, and the fibers that are used in Nylon are smooth and non-absorbent. Hence items made from nylon material dry rather quickly. It also remains clean (quite resistant to getting dirty) and is not compromised by sweat or chemical damage. Due to its silky feel, Nylon is often used in fabric and fibre production.
You might not be aware but Nylon can be used not only in clothing manufacture but also to make other consumer products like toothbrushes, ropes, carpets, fishing nets, etc.
It can be used to make bristles, fibers, powders, sheets, rods, and liquid coatings as well. They are marketed under names like Perlon, Orlon, Kevlar, Ortalion, Nomex, and Caprolan.
Trivia fact #1: When nylon first was created, it was used for making toothbrush bristles. Later, it was used to replace silk and was used in the creation of parachutes, military-style flak vests, and in vehicle tires too.
The range of Nylon products is diverse and ranges from lace and hosiery to brush bristles, conveyor belts, tires, etc. Nylons are tough materials in general, with good thermal and chemical resistance.
Some of Nylon's good qualities include the fact that it is elastic, lustrous, resilient, and dries quickly, apart from it being strong, non-absorbent to water, and damage resistant to oil and many other chemicals. While solvents, oils, and alcohols can damage and stain other fabrics, they do not harm nylon.
The term Nylon for many people has come to represent the popular female clothing brand of stockings, leggings, and sheer fabrics. Though Nylon is a generic word for the term 'thermoplastic', it is a group of polymers that includes plastic. It is on the other hand called thermoplastic because of its thermal properties.
As mentioned above, Nylon has a silky texture. It is produced by melting petroleum which leads to the development of various films, fibers, and shapes. Remember that Nylon has a high level of polarity and symmetry.
Trivia fact #2: You might not be aware, but women's stockings. also called nylons were put on display at the New York World's Fair in the year 1939. They are known to have become an instant success with over 64 million pairs sold during their first year of sale. After the war, their production was diverted to use in Parachutes owing to their high tensile strength. Nylon is particularly useful for making protective gear and clothing.
Does it help to know that Nylon polymers are considered unreactive nor are they particularly harmful? Any product (especially an article of clothing) that has nylon in it,
is listed simply as a nylon product. This is usually regardless of whatever products have been added. Having said that Nylon is not generally regarded as toxic.
Did you know that it is possible to make Nylon from renewable materials like Zytel, a type of Nylon that is produced by the company Du-Pont, which is made from castor oil (the source of which is vegetarian) It is also a fact that Nylon is bio-degradable, inspite of being a type of plastic, and hence it can is recyclable.
When Nylon is mixed with fabric it gives some elasticity. This is why this led to the increasing mixture of this fabric with textiles like wool, cotton, and polyester.
Thus, Nylon is considered the most synthetic material, that can be used in various instances of daily life. People live their lives with Nylon literally. Everything from your carpet, to your toothbrush, to your breakfast bowl are made from Nylon.
Why is there such a high demand for Nylon? The reasons are obvious. As mentioned above it is because the highly commercial material is known for its great durability and resistance to abrasion. Apart from that, it is considered to be lightweight,strong and wrinkle-free. It is also rarely attacked by moths and day-to-day chemicals.
What is Polyamide?
Polyamides refer to a broad term that covers a variety of materials. They have always been a subject of interest owing to their commercial importance and versatility, the fact that they can be used in the long term, and because of their variety in general. Because of this, Polyamides are considered less costly, compared to linen or cotton.
Polyamides are polymers made with amides which in turn are joined using peptide bonds. Polyamides generally are considered to be thermoplastic, which means they are solvent-resistant and are resistant to higher temperatures as well.
Polyamides may either occur naturally or can be synthesized. Some examples of naturally occurring polyamides are Wool and Silk. These are used to make fabric. On the other hand, some examples of synthetic polyamides are Teflon and Polyester and they are used in the manufacture of sportswear items, kitchen utensils, etc.
Synthetic polyamides are considered to be important materials because of their high performance at reasonable costs, which make them a mainstay across a range of industries. They are ideal for harsh settings and are used in refineries, water treatment plants, and even chemical processing facilities.
Because of features of the well-known Polymer like lightweight quality, heat resistance, and high tensile strength apart from high flame resistance and excellent dimensional stability, it is in high demand commercially as compared to similar materials. They are also considered highly durable and are known to last without too much maintenance.
Difference Between Nylon and Polyamide in Points
- While nylon is a generic name used to describe thermoplastic materials, Polyamide on the other hand is a broader term, which has a large number of repeating amide groups
- While the polymer Nylon can only be synthetic, Polyamide can be either synthetic or natural
- While Nylon is supposedly a kind of Polyamide. Polyamide is said to include a variety of materials. One of these polymer materials is nylon.
- Nylon is considered to be both durable and hydrophilic, whereas Polyamides are considered not that durable and are more or less hydrophobic
- Again Nylon is said to have a very high degree of symmetry and polarity, whereas the amide structures of different materials in the category decide their symmetry and polarity
- In terms of chemical structure, nylon is considered to be very symmetrical and polar. On the other hand, the polarity and symmetry of Polyamides are different owing to the difference in their Amide structure. Hence the characteristics of both materials differ as well.
- Polyamide materials both occur naturally or can be synthesized, whereas Nylon can only be synthesized.
Conclusion
Nylon and Polyamide are two very different kinds of materials. They are different in that, nylon is a kind of Polyamide, whereas not all polyamides are nylon.
It is now understood that the difference between Nylon and Polyamide is that while nylon is a synthetic material, Polyamide is both natural and synthetic. Hence both materials are indeed different.
While nylon has more resistance to rain and moisture, comparatively Polyamide doesn't. Also while we cannot absent-mindedly say that all Polyamides are Nylons, it is a fact that all Nylons are Polyamides.
Also, we have seen above that while Nylon can only be synthesized Polyamide materials can either be synthesized or occur naturally.
Nylons are also thought to be both durable and hydrophilic, whereas Polyamides are not as durable and are considered hydrophobic.
Remember that while Nylon is said to have a high symmetry and polarity, the amide structures of Polyamides decide their symmetry and polarity.
You can use the above write-up as a guide to help you understand the meaning of both terms. It will help with understanding the differences between both terms as well. It helps to know, that when buying either product, we ought to check that they are recyclable, and not just dumped into landfills. Regardless, before buying anything their environmental impact must surely be taken into consideration.
