Synthetic Fibers

Carpet information

General

Synthetic fibers have replaced natural fibers in most carpet. This is because they offer a combination of properties (tensile strength, dyeability, resiliency, etc.—see Carpet Terminology) and price that is attractive to carpet manufacturers. Synthetic yarns are made with uniform fiber diameter, which provides a uniform tensile strength, while natural fibers are less uniform and more prone to weak sections in which the filaments are of smaller diameter. Unless they are used to create a staple yarn, synthetic yarns have another distinct advantage in that they have continuous filaments. This means the tensile strength of the yarn filaments can translate directly into the tensile strength of the yarn. With staple yarns, the filament tensile strength and the spun yarn tensile strength are not as easily connected. Nylon, polyester, and olefin are the most commonly used synthetic carpet yarns.

Bulk continuous filament (BCF) nylon carpet yarn. The appearance is very similar to that of knitting yarns.

Basic Carpet Materials — Synthetic Fibers

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Nylon

Nylon is the predominant fiber in carpet manufacture, and is prized for its durability, resiliency, and dyeability. These characteristics mean the carpet will last a long time, the pile can be restored to original appearance after furniture has been moved, and that a wide variety of colors can be made to suit individual tastes. They also mean that nylon will be the most expensive synthetic fiber as it has advantages over its competition.

Nylon’s dyeability has a downside as well. Acid dyes work well with nylon. Food colors are acid dyes, so spilled foods can dye (stain) carpet if it is not protected. Stainmaster® is a treated brand of nylon carpet fiber that protects against stains.

A qualified carpet technician can explain how to keep your stain resistant carpet protected, and many stain resistant carpet warranties require that you have your carpet cleaned by a qualified professional every 12-18 months.

Olefin

Olefin offers an inexpensive alternative to nylon for carpet manufacture, and is widely used for inexpensive carpet. While slightly less durable than nylon, olefin still has good durability, and is very good at resisting stains. Olefin’s downside is that is has a low resiliency, and it is difficult to restore the carpet pile to its original position after moving furniture. It also absorbs essentially no moisture, which means water used to clean it will stay on the surface. In turn, that means olefin carpet will feel damper than nylon when it is cleaned with any process that uses water. Olefin is also hard to clean and tends to look dingy over time.

Polyester

Polyester is also a less inexpensive alternative to nylon for carpet manufacture, and has a very soft texture or “hand”. The primary source for the polyester used in carpet is recycled PET containers, mostly from beverage containers. If you live in a country that uses the universal recycling symbol, PET will be designated with a “1” as shown below. As with olefin, polyester has a low resiliency.