We hope by explaining the difference between the main fibres used in rug making ,it will help you to choose the right fibre for you and your home .The quality of the fibre used in a rug will determine how the rug will perform, how long it will last and how much the final rug will cost. It is important to understand that all fibres are available in various qualities and constructions .You cannot assume that a silk rug is better than a wool rug or that a wool rug is better than polyprop rug, it depends on the quality of the fibre, how the rug is made, the density of the pile (How close the tufts are together), where the rug will be used, how the rug will be maintained and last but not least how much you want to spend.
Wool
Wool can be hand spun or machine spun, after spinning the wool is usually plyed in the opposite direction, the more turns in the yarn the stronger the finished yarn and the more resistant to wear. Hand knotted Oriental rugs can be naturally dyed using plant and mineral dyestuffs, Chrome dyed using synthetic dyes or a mixture of the two. Hand tufted and machine made rugs are dyed using synthetic chrome dyes. Although quality can vary greatly wool is still the most luxurious of all the rug fibres. Some initial shedding will occur on new rugs, some of these loose fibres will be from the final shearing process used during making. This will usually subside given proper and regular maintanence. Shaggy rugs are usually felted yarns and can shed continuously in high traffic areas and although this will subside eventually, this can take a long period of time. High quality wool is still the fibre of choice for the rug connoisseur and along with silk the only fibre that will retain and increase in value with time.
The ultimate natural and green fibre, wool is inherently anti static, fire retardant and has excellent appearance retention properties.
Acrylic
Acrylic fibres are made from polymers and is widely used in Hand tufted rugs. Acrylic has the softest handle out of all the manmade fibres. The better qualities look and feel very close to wool. The fibre dyes well, has good appearance retention properties and is more resistant to fading than wool. The fibre can have a tendency to bobble or pill in high traffic areas, but the fibre offers excellent value for money.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is made from petroleum based products, it is inherently stain resistant to most stains and can withstand very harsh chemicals, even chlorine bleach. Due to the nature of the fibre, certain oil based chemicals (including the oils from your skin ) can fix itself to the fibre and cannot be removed. On light colours this will be seen as soiling in the traffic areas, spots reappearing after cleaning and yellowing. Due to the fibres low melting point, abrasive wear and friction on the pile surface can cause irreversable flattening and matting. This is less obvious on mid tones and darker colours. Although resistant to fading, intense sunlight can degrade the surface of the pile. Given all the above Polyprop in various forms is still sold widely, it does not shed fibres,is easy to clean and relatively inexpensive in comparison to the better quality polyamides and wool fibres.
Rayon - Viscose
The oldest of all the manmade fibres Rayon is made from cellulose found in the walls of plant cells. Also known as Artsilk, the fibre is soft and has a high lustre and sheen. Widely used in Hand tufted rugs as highlighting or to accent a design, more recently viscose has been used in Shaggy rugs and blended with other fibres in machine made wilton qualities. The fibre has good appearance retention against soiling, staining and is fade resistant to sunlight. The fibre has a tendancy to matt or flatten in traffic areas and performs better when blended with other fibres.
Silk
Silk is derived from the silkworm and is used extensively in high quality Oriental hand knotted rugs and carpets. The fibre has excellent tensile strength but does not perform well in high traffic areas, where it will mat, crush and wear. These rugs are better used in areas of light traffic ( shoes off ) or as wallhangings. The fibre is well suited as a highlight or accent in wool rugs and performs better in this format. The most expensive of all the fibres used in rugmaking, these rugs need to be cared for like the works of art which they are. Specialist cleaning is required for all stains.
Jute - Sisal
Jute is the softest of all the plant fibres, these rugs and carpets should only be used in light traffic areas. Sisal is more forgiving than Jute or Coir and will perform better in traffic areas. Expect slubs, lines and inconsistent colours, it all adds to the charm of the fibre. Jute fibres react badly to moisture and stains can be hard to clean as over wetting (even clear water) can cause staining. Biodegradable and very green, these rugs add a true rustic and organic feel to any room. Staining can be a problem with all the Natural Fibres, specialist stain protection treatments can be applied used in conjunction with the manufacturers recommended cleaning products.
Polyamide - Nylon
Polyamide, more commonly referred to as Nylon is the most durable of all the fibres used in carpet production. Although not widely used in rug making, the fibre is still available in broadloom carpets. There are two basic types of Nylon, Nylon type 6 and Nylon type 6.6. The fibre can be solution dyed (as polyprop) for better stain resistance or hank dyed as wool. It is the best of all the manmade fibres for appearance retention and best recovery properties in heavy traffic areas.
Nylon (Polyamide) has fell out of favour in domestic homes in the UK, but is still widely used in the contract and commercial sector all over the World.
