Difference Between Polyester and Nylon

The key difference between polyester and nylon is that nylon is a synthetic polymer whereas polyesters can be natural or synthetic.

Polymers are large molecules that have the same structural unit repeating over and over. The repeating units are called monomers. These monomers are bonded to each other with covalent bonds to form a polymer. They have a high molecular weight and consist of over 10,000 atoms. In the synthesis process, which is known as polymerization, longer polymer chains are obtained.

Polymers have very different physical and chemical properties than their monomers. According to the number of repeating units in the polymer, its properties differ. There are a large number of polymers present in the natural environment, and they play very important roles. Synthetic polymers are also used widely for different purposes. Polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, nylon, and Bakelite are some synthetic polymers. When producing synthetic polymers, the process should always be highly controlled to get the desired product.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Polyester
3. What is Nylon
4. Side by Side Comparison – Polyester vs Nylon in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Polyester

Polyesters are polymers with the ester functional group. Since there are many esters, it is known as polyester. There are natural polyesters and synthetic polyesters. Moreover, there are several types of polyesters, depending on the composition of the main chain. They are aliphatic, semi-aromatic and aromatic polyesters. Poly-lactic acid and poly-glycolide acid are examples for aliphatic polyesters. Polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate are semi aromatic polyesters, whereas vectran is an aromatic polyester.

Synthesis of polyester is done by a polycondensation reaction. A diol with a diacid reacts to produce an ester linkage and this polymerization continues till the desired polyester is synthesized. Polyesters are widely produced and have a large market after polyethylene and polypropylene. Polyesters are thermoplastics, so heat may change their shape. Further, they can be thermoset, as well. When exposed to higher temperatures, they are combustible.

Polyester is used to produce fabrics. These fabrics are used to make clothes like pants, shirts and jackets. Moreover, they are used to make home furnishings like bed sheets, blankets, etc. Polyester fibers are also used to make bottles, filters, insulating tapes, etc. Natural polyesters are biodegradable, so they can be recycled. They have really good mechanical and chemical properties, which allow them to be used for many purposes as mentioned above. Another advantage of polyester is its low toxicity.

What is Nylon?

Nylon is a polymer with amide functional group. They are a class of synthetic polymers. Nylon was the first successful synthetic polymer. Also, it is one of the most widely used polymers. Nylon is a thermoplastic and is a silky material. When synthesizing a polyamide like nylon, a molecule with carboxylic groups is reacted with a molecule having amine groups at both ends. Nylon was produced as a replacement for silk to make fabrics and such materials.

What is the Difference Between Polyester and Nylon?

In polyesters, the ester functional group is present whereas, in nylon, the amide functional group is present. Nylon is a synthetic polymer whereas polyesters can be natural or synthetic. Moreover, polyesters can be thermoplastic or thermoset, but nylon is thermoplastic. Nylon fabrics are more naturally felt than polyesters.

Summary – Polyester vs Nylon

The key difference between polyester and nylon is that nylon is a synthetic polymer whereas polyesters can be natural or synthetic. Moreover, polyesters can be thermoplastic or thermoset, but nylon is thermoplastic.