choose a fibre...
There are a wide variety of fibres used in carpet manufacturing each of them delivering different looks, soft feel and varying lustres to suit the needs of today's customers.
Each of these different fibre types has their own strengths based on the types and style of construction they are produced in.
Blends
There are a number of blended fibres used in carpet production. These blends vary from 50/50 wool/nylon or polypropylene to 80% wool/20% nylon and variations in between.
Probably the most widely recognised blend is the 80/20 wool, nylon mix which delivers a carpet with the soft luxurious feel of wool with the added abrasive quality of nylon.
Nylon
This is a man made fibre produced from products from the production of petroleum. Nylon is the leading fibre used in carpet production around the world.
Nylon carpets are outstanding in their ability to resist abrasive wear, loss of pile fibre due to foot traffic and resilience in recovering from pile crushing.
Many years of research into nylon fibre construction has enabled fibres to be specifically engineered to maximise soiling, varying the degree of lustre, maximising colour clarity and the application of stain blocking technology which significantly increases the fibres resistance to staining and improves the cleanability.
There are two methods used to add colour to the nylon fibre, one is continuous dyeing whereby the nylon fibre is produced in white form and the colour is then added. The other method is called solution dyeing where the actual colour is added to the actual molten nylon polymer before the yarn is produced.
Both methods deliver an excellent finished yarn that will deliver excellent on floor performance, with easy maintenance.
Polypropylene
Another man made fibre produced as a by product from the petroleum industry. All polypropylene fibres are coloured by using the solution dyed process described earlier.
Polypropylene has excellent soil and stain resistant properties as well as excellent colour fastness.
The fibre does not quite have the same resilience and recovery from general pile crushing from day to day wear, as nylon, when constructed in tight dense loop pile carpets it delivers exceptional service, wear and tear and excellent value for money
Wool
Used in producing carpets for many centuries, wool is seen by many as the classic carpet fibre. Being a natural fibre, wool has a good resistance to burning even if ignition takes place and the crisp char that forms can be removed with little trace from minor burns. Wool also has excellent recovery from stress under the influence of moisture so that wet cleaning revives the pile as well as removing soil.
The vast majority of wool used in carpet construction comes from sheep who live in colder climates i.e. New Zealand, England, Scotland where the sheep grow a course wool which is ideal for the wear and tear the carpets endure.
When used correctly in dense pile construction, wool offers long term durability, appearance retention and the ability to keep its fresh beauty and unquestionably "grows old gracefully."
Selecting the right fibre
This will very much depend on your personal preference and the amount of wear and tear your carpet is likely to experience. The following chart is intended to assist you in selecting the best fibre suited to your needs.
|
Fibre
|
General
Classification
|
Durability -
Resistance to Abrasion |
Resilency -
Resistance To Crushing |
Soiling -
Resistance To Soiling |
Staining -
Resistance to Staining |
Cleanability -
|
| Wool | The traditional carpet fibre. Can require anti-static treatment |
Very
good
|
Excellent
|
Very
Good
|
Good
|
Very
Good
|
| Nylon | Wide variety of styles. Worlds most popular carpet fibre. Look for anti-static treatment. |
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Good
if treated and branded fibre |
Good
If treated and branded fibre |
Very
Good
If treated and branded fibre |
| Polypropylene | Moisture resisting fibre used in outdoor/indoor carpets, commercial and residential. Relatively static-free. |
Very
Good
|
Very
Good
In suitable construction |
Good
|
Very
Good
|
Good
|
| Acrylic | Synthetic that most closely resembles wool in feel. |
Fair
to Good
|
Good
to
Very Good |
Fair
|
Good
|
Good
|
| Polyester | Soft and luxurious, offering excellent apparent value. |
Excellent
|
Good
if heat set yarn fair if not |
Good
|
Fair
|
Very
Good
|
| Solution Dyed Nylon | An extremely durable fibre ideal for both domestic and commercial applications. Naturally stain resistant, colour fastness is excellent. | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
