Polyamide (PA)

What is polyamide?

Polyamide consists of linear polymers with amide bonds; it is therefore a plastic that can be deformed at higher temperatures (thermoplastic). Polyamides are frequently used for the production of synthetic fibers because they are very strong, tough, and stiff, and exhibit good abrasion and wear resistance.

Properties of polyamide fibers

Polyamide fibers absorb very little moisture, making them exceptionally quick-drying. Whether wet or dry, polyamide fibers are highly tear-resistant and durable. Furthermore, they are extremely elastic, making them particularly wrinkle-resistant. Fabrics made from polyamide drape beautifully and are even lighter than silk. They are also dyeable and mothproof.
Polyamide blends very well with other fibers such as cotton or viscose to further enhance its properties.

How is polyamide manufactured?

The production of polyamide fibers requires a viscous mass. This is obtained by converting certain amino acids. A basic building block is petroleum, or rather the carbon atoms extracted from it. Polyamide fibers are created by forcing the viscous mass through a nozzle into a cold air duct, forming the thin fibers, which are then solidified by a sudden temperature change.
During this process, the shape and thickness of the endlessly long fibers (filaments) can be determined, thus influencing their properties.

Disadvantages of polyamide fibers

Polyamide fibers are very sensitive to heat. They should never be washed above 40°C, unless they are part of a blend within the textile product and make up only a small portion of the total weight. Furthermore, polyamide textiles should not be tumble dried. Since the material hardly wrinkles at all, ironing is also unnecessary.
Therefore, it's best to keep polyamide away from heat.

Are polyamides synthetic or natural fibers?

There are both natural and synthetic polyamides.
Natural polyamides include peptides and proteins such as wool and silk. However, when people talk about polyamides, they usually mean synthetic polyamides.
Polyamides, abbreviated PA, are also known as nylon (PA 6.6) or its competitor, Perlon (PA 6).

What are polyamide fibers used for?

Polyamide fibers are very versatile. They are frequently found in rainwear and sportswear, swimwear, linings, and hosiery. Because polyamide blends very well with other fiber raw materials such as cotton or viscose, it is also found in many other textile products.

How are polyamide, nylon, and Perlon related?

Nylon and Perlon are important representatives of the polyamides.
Polyamide is sometimes also called nylon. However, it is actually a brand name for polyamide fibers, just like Perlon, nylon's competitor. Nylon is, so to speak, the American counterpart to Perlon. When the Americans discovered the synthetic fiber, they named it nylon. When the fiber was discovered in Germany, it was called Dederon in East Germany and Perlon in West Germany.

Are nylon and perlon the same?

Perlon is a competitor to nylon, but its properties are hardly distinguishable. Perlon was patented after World War II by a group of German companies because an American chemical company ( DuPont ) already held the patent for Nylon 6.6. Perlon thus came about more or less because a German discovered a loophole in the American patent. Although nylon and Perlon have very similar properties, such as temperature resistance and elasticity, they are manufactured from different raw materials. Perlon is also easier to dye than nylon and has a lower melting point.