Nylon vs Polyethylene terephthalate
Nylon and Polyethylene terephthalate are genuine alternatives to one another — a choice somebody actually makes — and differ on 2 measured properties, density most clearly.
Nylon vs Polyethylene terephthalate
Nylon
The first fully synthetic fibre — stronger than silk, and the material that proved a laboratory could out-perform an organism.
Polyethylene terephthalate
The polyester in every drinks bottle and most clothing — and the only plastic with a genuinely working recycling stream.
| Property | Nylon | Polyethylene terephthalate |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.13–1.15 g/cm³ | 1.38–1.4 g/cm³ higher |
| Melting point | 190–265 °C | 250–260 °C higher |
Choosing between them
Nylon is recorded as a substitute for Polyethylene terephthalate — stronger.
What it gives up: Absorbs several per cent of its weight in water and degrades in sunlight, both of which polyester resists.
In this application, on the evidence cited above.