|
|
Nylon
|
Polypropylene
(Olefin)
|
Polyester (PET)
|
Wool
|
PTT (Corterra®, Triextra®, Sorona®, SmartStrand®)
|
|
Market
|
~50%
|
~15%
|
~29%
|
~2%
|
~4% and rising
|
|
“Hand” (Softness)
|
Good
|
Poor
|
Very Good
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
|
I.D.
Method
|
Dissolves in formic acid. Burns to a hard black bead; puffs white smoke; extinguishes
|
Floats in water. Burns to a round hard tan bead.
|
Dissolves in hot meta-cresol. Burn test: Orange sputtering flame and a black sooty smoke.
|
Dissolves in chlorine bleach. Burns with a burned-hair odor to a black crumbly residue.
|
Burn test: Orange sputtering flame and a black sooty smoke.
|
|
Moisture Absorption
|
4.2-4.5%
|
0.01%
|
0.04-0.08%
|
Up to 30%
|
0.04-0.08%
|
|
Specific Gravity
|
1.14
|
0.90
|
1.23
|
1.32
|
1.35
|
|
Resilience
|
Excellent
|
None
|
Fair
|
Good
|
Good
|
|
Abrasion Resistance
|
Excellent
|
Very Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
Very Good
|
|
Effects of Acids, Alkalis, and Solvents
|
Resistant to weak acids, but decomposes in strong mineral acids
|
Chemically inert
|
Resistant to most acids and solvents
|
Sensitive to acids and alkalis
|
Resistant to most acids and solvents
|
|
Dye Methods
|
Acid; some solution dyed
|
Solution dyed
|
Dispersed Dyes
|
Various
|
Dispersed Dyes, Solution Dyed
|
|
Resistance to Mildew, Aging, Sunlight
|
Excellent resistance to mildew and aging. Prolonged sunlight can cause degradation.
|
Good resistance to all three
|
Excellent resistance to mildew and aging. Prolonged sunlight can cause degradation
|
Damaged by sunlight, mildew, moths, beetles. Sunlight can cause yellowing.
|
Good
|
|
Color Retention
|
Very good
|
Excellent
|
Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
|
Stain Resistance
|
Poor (5th generation very good)
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Very Poor
|
Excellent
|
|
Stains/Soils Attracted to Fiber
|
Acid dyes, except for 5th generation
|
Oil based
|
Oil based
|
Protein, urine, blood, meat juices
|
Oil based
|
|
Melt Point °F
|
Type6-435º F; Type6,6-490º
|
320º F
|
509º F
|
None (ignites)
|
440º F
|
|
Cigarette Burn Resistance
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Very good
|
None
|