Feel & performance
Nylon was created as an alternative to silk, which explains its soft and silky feel. It is also shinier and stretchier than polyester.
Polyester is a generally a rougher, duller fabric. However, modern manufacturing practices have improved the feel of polyester. You can now find polyester that mimic the softness of cotton and isn’t so close to to the feel of nylon.
You’ll also find polyester blended with other fibers, like cotton and rayon. This means the yarn has all of the great features of polyester at a more affordable price.
Dyeing
Disperse dyes are used to color polyester whilst acid dyes are used to color nylon.
Polyester responds to the dyeing process much better than nylon. Dyes are absorbed well and polyester has good color fastness.
Cationic-dyeable (or CD) polyester is a modified polyester. This type of polyester can be dyed in a different way, giving richer and more vivid color.
Nylon is trickier to work with, which makes dyeing nylon a job reserved for very best professionals.
Dyes are sometimes absorbed in an uneven way across nylon fabric, creating unwanted striping.
And nylon isn’t particularly colorfast either. Under UV rays, dyed nylon fades more quickly than polyester.
In cases where nylon and polyester fibers have been blended together, dyeing creates a two-tone effect. You can use acid dye, which the nylon will absorb and the polyester won’t. Or disperse dye, which nylon absorbs to a lesser extent.
Durability
Both nylon and polyester rate well for strength and durability. But when we make a direct comparison, nylon is stronger and stretchier than polyester, meaning garments made from nylon should last longer.
Nylon falls down slightly when it comes to abrasion resistance. This material pills more easily than polyester. Whilst this doesn’t weaken the garment, it will tend to look older more quickly.
Reaction to water
When nylon gets wet it absorbs water and can expand up to 3.5%. So when you’re sweating or working out in the rain, it will take longer for nylon to dry.
Polyester, in comparison, is much less absorbent. It’s a hydrophobic fabric, which means any water is thrust to the surface of the garment, where it is able to evaporate. This makes it great for high-intensity sports where lots of perspiration is a given.
Reaction to heat
Next up. How do these two fabrics cope in the face of heat?
Polyester is the more durable option. It actually needs high heat to absorb dyes. This means it’s a reliable option for sublimation or digital print.
Nylon, on the other hand, can’t be processed under high heat so heat transfer printing is a much more delicate process.
Care
Both fabrics are extremely easy to care for. They don’t wrinkle, stretch or shrink. And they’re not susceptible to mold, mildew or staining either.
When caring for polyester or nylon, a standard washing machine cycle will do. They shouldn’t be dry cleaned. Nor should they be ironed or tumble dried on a high heat. For polyester or nylon with wicking properties, fabric softener should also be avoided.
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