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Nylon is the most commonly used fiber for carpet on the market today. It is strong, resilient, has excellent cleanability, is easy to dye, and it’s raw materials are readily available. With the congested traffic paths that are prevalent in multi-family housing, nylon is a great choice for wear and durability.
This new Triexta fiber, which is what the FTC has classified it, is stronger than PET Polyester and has better color fastness and cleanability than PET. Unfortunately, PTT cannot be dyed. In testing, it’s wear is approaching that of Nylon.
This fiber’s chemical name, Polyethylene Terephthalate, falls in the class of fibers known commonly as polyesters. It is extremely fade resistant and provides excellent resistance to stains. However, polyester does not possess the same resilient properties as nylon, thus is susceptible to premature crushing and matting. Polyester cannot be dyed. Low ounce weight products should be avoided in high traffic areas.
This fiber has superior stain resistance with the exception of oil based stains. Like polyesters, it is extremely fade resistant. It is historically a weak fiber and was originally favored for outdoor carpeting. This fiber should be avoided in low ounce weights and congested traffic areas.
Solution dyed means the raw materials used to make the fiber are dyed to color before the yarn is extruded. The combination of raw materials and the dye method give the carpet great stain and fade resistance, as well as resistance to harsh cleaning agents such as bleach.
