SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBERS — MAUERSBERGER 213 



the orientation of molecules in the drawing process, which can be 

 altered to suit any particular condition or demand. It is the proper- 

 ties of the yarn resulting from this control of molecular arrangement 

 which caused the compan}'' to introduce it in the manufacture of fine 

 hosiery. Nylon is also extremely tough, standing long wear and 

 abuse, making it ideal for the bristles in tooth and hair brushes, fish- 

 ing leaders and the like. It is resistant to abrasion. Its resistance 

 to heat is good, i.e., its melting point is around 480° F., which is 

 above the temperature normally used in ironing fabrics. Nylon 

 does not burn or blaze or propagate a flame. It merely melts. 

 Hence, no fire hazards are involved in its use. It is not injured by 

 water or any liquid commonly used in the home. It is attacked by 

 phenol (carbolic acid) and certain mineral acids normally found 

 in the laboratory only. It is readily wet out by water, but absorbs 

 much less water than common textile materials. Hence, nylon 

 articles dry extremely rapidly and are just as strong wet as when 

 dry. Hot water and saturated steam impart a substantially "perma- 

 nent set" to nylon yarn and fabricated materials, which serves to 

 retain its shape. Of course, nylon can be made waterproof or water- 

 repellent by customary treatments. 



Nylon, like all ordinary textile fibers, is subject to injury by 

 ordinary light. It is claimed to be at least equally as resistant to 

 indoor and outdoor light as corresponding unweighted silk fabrics. 

 It can be stored in the absence of light for long periods without 

 injury. Nylon is absolutely proof against attack by moths, fungi, 

 and bacteria. Nylon has good insulating properties and high abra- 

 sion resistance. Its refractive index in the textile form is 1.53 to 

 1.57 Nylon is doubly refractive and when examined between crossed 

 Nicol prisms, all colors of the rainbow appear. 



Of its present 4,000,000-pound production, 90 percent goes into the 

 manufacture of fine, full-fashioned women's hosiery. It has found 

 application in the manufacture of sewing thread known as "Neophil." 

 It is also used for corset fabrics and for shroud lines for parachutes, 

 and is now being developed for the parachute fabric itself. As a mono- 

 filament and bristle, it is used in "Exton" and "Miracle Tuft" tooth 

 brushes and hair brushes; also as surgical sutures. 



While nylon is produced at Seaford, Del., with a capacity of 

 8,000,000 poimds, another plant is being started at Martinsville, Va., 

 which will bring the production to 16,000,000 pounds by the spring 

 of 1942. 



Much of this information is already available to technicians, sci- 

 entific workers, and textile experts. It is merely repeated for the 

 sake of A. S. T. M. records and also as a summary for you. Nylon 

 serves as an excellent example of what can be done to construct and 



