Corterra^® Carpet Fiber

Corterra (PolyTrimethylene Terephthalate - sometimes abbreviated PTT), originally made by Shell Chemical, was touted at one time as the eventual replacement for nylon as the primary fiber of choice in carpet, which has not happened, but it is increasingly popular.

DuPont developed a new process to product PTT from corn sugar and calls this fiber Sorona^®.

The FTC determined that fibers made from PTT offer a unique combination of benefits which merit a new generic name, Triexta.

This is the fiber used in Mohawk’s SmartStrand^®.

It is anticipated that Triexta fibers will resist staining with acid food dyes and be somewhat resistant to disperse dyes (the yellow of turmeric in mustard is an example of a disperse dye).

PTT does have an strong affinity for oil and grease, but should respond well to cleaning if it is done on a regular basis, at least annual, for typical family use.

Properties of Triexta:

• Triexta has a more matte finish, making its appearance look more similar to nylon than to polyester.
• Due to triexta’s hydrophobic fiber, it’s naturally stain resistant.
• Direct exposure to sunlight and UV rays will not cause discoloration of the fiber.
• For stain protection, no chemicals are added to the fiber.
• Triexta is notably softer compared to polyester and nylon.
• Good resiliency.
• Good anti-static properties.
• Resistant to bleach.
• By replacing petroleum with corn glucose during production, fewer chemicals are put into the fiber, which means less VOCs transferred into the air.
• Corterra (PTT) attracts oily soils, leading to premature wear in high traffic areas. For this reason, many oil-based stains are extremely difficult to remove.

Related Carpet Manufacture and Fiber Chemistry Products and Information:

• Carpet and Rug Fiber Chemistry
• Carpet Fiber Identification
• Carpet Manufacturing
• Fibers - An Overview
• Nylon Carpet Fiber