The fibers used for a carpet's face yarn dramatically affect its look and performance.
Here is a look at the carpet fibers used today:
Nylon. Two-thirds of the today's carpet fibers are nylon, a material
that offers excellent durability and is wear-, soil- and mildew-resistant.
Nylon fibers are resilient, survive the crushing weight of furniture and
hold up well in heavily trafficked areas. Nylon is available in brilliant
colors and solution-dyed varieties are colorfast. Nylon carpets tend to
cost from about $8 to $25 per square yard. At rock-bottom, they run as low
as $5; at the high end you can pay $70 per square yard or more.
Olefin. Also known as polypropylene, olefin fibers represent about
30% of the carpet market. Although olefin began as an outdoor carpet fiber,
thanks to its resistance to moisture and mildew, new advances in its look
and feel have made olefin popular for the entire house. It is easy to clean,
strong and resistant to stains, wear and static electricity. These fibers
are used primarily in multi-level loops, such as berbers, and in low-profile
commercial cut piles. Color is added before the material is turned into
fiber, making olefin colorfast. Some carpet tiles made of olefin are felt-like
in texture; for these, polypropylene fibers are needle-punched into a mesh
core. Olefin carpet is comparable in price to nylon; although the fiber
is less expensive than nylon, more manufacturing processes are involved
in making olefin berbers and loops.
Polyester. If you like a luxurious, soft, thick cut pile, polyester
may be your best bet. Polyester fibers, known for their soft "hand,"
have plenty of body, resist wear and offer strong color and luster retention.
Unfortunately, they are not as durable as nylon and olefin. Currently, many
polyester carpets are made from recycled PET (polyester) from plastic soda
bottles and containers. Polyester carpets run about $1 less per square yard
than comparable nylon products.
Acrylic. Although you won't likely find a 100% acrylic carpet, these
fibers are blended with other fibers such as wool because they approximate
the look and feel of natural wool but are less expensive. Acrylic fibers
are resistant to moisture, mildew and fading in direct sunlight.
Wool. The most luxurious fiber is natural wool. It is soft, durable,
offers generous bulk and comes in many colors. From an ecological viewpoint,
it is particularly responsible choice because it comes from a sustainable
resource. Unfortunately, wool is also considerably more expensive than synthetics.
For wool, you're likely to pay from $30 to $100 per square yard--or more.
--Don Vandervort
