The Different Commercial Uses for Nylon
When you hear the word “nylon,” you probably recall the retro nude pantyhose the Queen of England insists Kate Middleton wear. It’s true that nylon first caught the world’s attention when it replaced silk stockings in 1939 at about $1 a pair. But nylon comes in many forms, and it has revolutionized entire industries. You’ll understand the power of nylon when you consider the different commercial uses for nylon today.
DuPont engineered the first nylon out of coal, water, and oxygen. It’s strong, cheap, and flexible, so over the years, it’s been substituted for traditional materials such as steel, aluminum, plastics, and rubbers. Nylon drives the market in many ways, especially right now in the auto industry; more automakers are finding that switching from metal to nylon parts reduces the weight of vehicles—and their emission levels.
You’ll find that nylon is everywhere and in some surprising products, like these:
Cookware
Did we mention nylon can withstand high heat, too? Companies such as Calphalon and OXO use the flexible material in spatulas, tongs, brushes, and more. You can thank nylon for kitchen tools in coordinating colors because it’s so easy to dye.
Electronics
Nylon’s impressive properties include nonconductivity and heat resistance, so it’s a natural for everything from screws and bolts to circuit board hardware. Its friction coefficient is low, so you’ll also find it in mechanisms that rotate or slide.
Fabric
Those early stockings were followed by an explosion of nylon textiles. Nylon can stretch, and it drapes well, so it became popular in socks, swimsuits, gloves, hats, lingerie, athletic shoes, and endlessly more. Sportswear is often created from a blend of nylon and Spandex, while modern police armor is made by combining nylon and fiberglass.
Military Equipment
Nylon had a big moment in World War II, when it replaced silk in parachutes and made them infinitely easier (and cheaper) to produce. Today, much of the military’s standard issue is made from nylon, such as stents, rope, backpacks, flak jackets, and more.
When you realize that the different commercial uses for nylon range from bridal veils to safety netting in space, you’ll never dismiss it as simply pantyhose again.
