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Denier Nylon
Bobbing gently up and down on the swells just beyond the breakers, three fishermen prepare to come home with the days’ catch.
Bobbing gently up and down on the swells, just beyond the breakers, is nothing. Three fishermen sit next to their vehicles, soaked through after their swim to the shore, miserable that their dinner is swimming free once again, and shocked that their inflatable is at the bottom of the ocean.
They should have bought an inflatable boat made of 1000 denier nylon instead of 100.
Ah well, at least the fishermen had the correct unit of weight measurement for the fabric in their life jackets of about 600, or the fishermen too might have been at the bottom of the ocean. They also thanked their lucky stars they weren’t paratroopers. Making a similar mistake of not checking denier numbers of a fabric for best compatibility with the material’s intended use would be a paratrooper’s downfall.
Nylons are stockings, but nylon itself is a material made up of threads woven together in a similar fashion to that used for basket weaving. Loosely woven nylon threads are lightweight and result in a material that is not very strong and can be used to make stockings. Tightly woven threads are heavier and the material more tough and durable. These stronger nylon materials are used to make items such as inflatable boats, life jackets, parachutes, curtains and shower curtains, tablecloths, aprons, hammocks, windbreakers, luggage items, jackets, backpacks, tents, camera bags, flags, dog beds, linings for rifle cases, gun holsters, advertising balloons or blimps, coverings for boats, cars, trailers and aircraft, beach and rain umbrellas, raincoats, wallets and handbags.
Denier nylon stockings are mostly 7 or 15, having fine thread to ensure transparency, elasticity, comfort, airiness, and smoothness. Denier nylon stockings that have a nylon unit weight measurement of 50 or 60 will be less sheer as it’s more tightly woven, resulting in a greater thickness of thread, but more durable. Nylon is smooth, so even a measurement of 60 or 70 used for stockings will still be attractive and comfortable.
Nylon is warmer, and more water resistant, than polyester, and is a great material for scarves, mittens, socks and gloves. Weight for weight, measure for measure, and for just plain functionality, nylon is better than polyester. It’s certainly stronger. Although nylon material with a denier of 600 is stronger than nylon material with a denier of 400, a denier of 400 for nylon is stronger than a denier of 600 for polyester.
Although synthetic, the wonderful advantage about nylon is that it is so smooth, being perfect for applying outer coatings to, which can help protect against UV sunrays, water, and fire. It also does not rot or mould, and is fungal growth resistant.
So now you know that it’s not just people who can be too thin, or weigh too much. Materials have issues too. Funny though, how it isn’t fair that, when it comes to material thread weight and thickness, more is usually best.
09.29.2009
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