1935
Carothers 66
Wallace Carothers’ team polymerised hexamethylene diamine + adipic acid.
Nylon did not arrive as a finished commodity. DuPont 1935–38 around United States still explains who makes it and which tests it sits in.
Ten dated points, five eras and three milestones below are the spine — not a complete industrial history.
Where it began
DuPont 1935–38United States
Timeline
1935Carothers 66
Wallace Carothers’ team polymerised hexamethylene diamine + adipic acid.
1938Nylon 6,6 launch
Toothbrush bristles then stockings.
1939World’s Fair
Nylon stockings as spectacle.
WWIIParachutes & cord
Military demand ate civilian stockings.
1938–41Schlack PA6
Caprolactam route in Germany — today’s volume nylon.
1960sTyre cord wars
Nylon vs PET vs rayon vs later aramid/steel.
1970sCarpet bulked yarn
BCF nylon owned US carpets for a generation.
1990sAirbags
High-tenacity PA66 fabrics.
2000sBio-caprolactam talk
Still mostly fossil.
2010sOcean fishing-net recycle
ECONYL-type loops for PA6.
The eras
1939
World’s Fair
Nylon stockings as spectacle.
1938–41
Schlack PA6
Caprolactam route in Germany — today’s volume nylon.
1970s
Carpet bulked yarn
BCF nylon owned US carpets for a generation.
2000s
Bio-caprolactam talk
Still mostly fossil.
Milestones
Parachutes & cord
WWIIMilitary demand ate civilian stockings.
Carpet bulked yarn
1970sBCF nylon owned US carpets for a generation.
Ocean fishing-net recycle
2010sECONYL-type loops for PA6.
Knowing this timeline is how to read a mill certificate without treating Nylon as timeless.
Keep exploring
More in Textiles
🌱
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Seed-hair cellulose that dressed the industrial revolution — still the comfort fibre of daily wear.
Overall 44 🐑Wool
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Overall 53 🦋Silk
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Overall 41 🎽Polyester
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Overall 49 🦺Aramid
Aromatic polyamide pulps and filaments — ballistic packs, hot-gas filtration and asbestos replacement.
Overall 62