Fiber

Fibers are the basic components from which the strands are made. And there are a variety of carpet fibers available and we will talk about the most commonly used ones: nylon, acrylic, polyester, wool, polypropylene, cotton and silk. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. When you are choosing a carpet, consider which fiber is suitable for you.

Nylon is the most commonly and widely used fibre. It is highly durable and resilient, offering good appearance and easy maintenance. So it is a very good choice for high traffic areas.

It is the kind of synthetic fiber which is most like wool. Compared with other fibers it is relatively poor in resisting flame, but it is lightweight, soft and resilient. It is also inherently soil and stain resistant.

It is a kind of soft fiber and is extremely stain resistant. In the past it was not as resilient as nylon and did not hold up well in heavy traffic areas, but this has changed in recent years, especially for those polyester carpets with "Texture Retention" warranties.

It is another synthetic fiber, also called olefin. It is lightweight and has high strength and high insulating properties. It is very good at resisting stains in most cases but there are exceptions, for example oil based stains, which is because this fiber is actually petroleum based itself. It is durable, resilient and colorfast.

The fibers we have mentioned above are all synthetic. Here are some natural ones which are commonly used: wool, cotton and silk. Handmade carpets can only be woven with these natural fibers because of their properties of softness and smoothness.

Wool is the oldest fiber people use to make carpets. It provides a luxurious feel and excellent appearance and it is warm, lightweight, soft and wrinkle resistant, but wool does not hold up well where stains are concerned. A wool carpet is not a good choice in very humid areas because it tends to hold moisture. Compared with synthetic fibers, wool costs much more. But it is not as expensive as silk. It comes from the fleece of sheep while fibers from goats or camel are considered hair, which can not dye well. Generally coarse wool is more durable than fine wool.

Silk is the most expensive fiber used in handmade carpets. Silk comes from the cocoons of silk worms and was first used in China. Today China is still one of the places where best silk carpets are produced. When making carpets, silk can be used alone or in combination with wool. Pure silk carpets are very light and feel smooth. Fine silk carpets are gorgeous and they are usually used as decorations on floors or on walls. They require special care so when used as floor coverings, they should be placed in areas of light traffic.

It is used primarily as warp and weft yarns in the foundation of carpets. It does not resist stains well and absorbs moisture.