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Nylon
The strength of nylon comes from amide groups in its molecular chain, which bond together very well. Nylon also has a very regular shape, which makes it well suited to creating fabrics designed to stand up to intense forces. In fact, nylon was the primary material used in parachutes and ropes during the Second World War for this reason. It is also used for bulletproof vests and other hard wearing items.
The nylon fiber industry was born in 1939 when 64 million pairs of nylon stockings were sold--and to this day, most people still associate nylon with fibers. However, in the 1940s and 1950s work continued on developing nylon compounds that could be molded and extruded or otherwise processed like plastics. Typical applications for nylons are in automotive parts, electrical/electronic uses, and packaging.
The generic name for all synthetic fibre-forming polyamides, they can be formed into monofilamnets and yarns characterised by great toughness, strength and elasticity, high melting point, they also exhibit good resistance to water and chemicals.
The material is widely used for bristles in industrial and domestic brushes, and for many textile applications, it is also used in the injection moulding gears, bearings, combs etc.
Nylon,in its fabric form is very sensitive to heat and should be washed and dried on cool settings. Nylon can also be hung dry, and it is favored by campers because it dries very rapidly. Nylon is a flexible textile, and as a result, it appears in a wide range of applications, from clothing to climbing equipment. Depending on how it is processed, nylon can be formed into the gossamer-like threads used in stockings or into thick toothbrush bristles.
