Can You Sublimate On Nylon? | 8 Step Easy Guideline
Sublimation is the best way to create a custom-made design for clothing. It is a type of heat transfer that occurs when a solid material melts and changes directly into a gas. Many materials commonly used as a design in clothing and other products are made of sublimated organic compounds. One such example of a sublimated substance is nylon, which is a polymer of hexamethylene diamine. If you are thinking, can you sublimate on nylon? The satisfying answer is Yes! Because the process of nylon printing is similar to silk-screen printing.
Nylon is a synthetic polymer composed of polyamides that have been chemically treated. In 1934, Wallance Hume Carothers invented nylon. In 1939, a bristled toothbrush was the first item to be created from nylon. As well as, the first nylon-based fabric was created in 1940. It is usually made with petroleum, which can melt and create different types of threads. This type of fiber is one of the essential types of fiber in the world. It is derived from natural polyamide fibers. This means that it is a combination of naturally occurring amino acids. Making this fiber involves breaking the polymers that make up natural cotton and rayon fibers. When they do this, the resulting nylon’s birth is much stronger than rayon, lycra, and spandex.
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In this post, we have provided a detailed process on how to sublimate on nylon while keeping all of your necessities in mind.
Can You Sublimate On Nylon? Step-by-Step Guide
Yes! You can sublimate on nylon. Before sublimation on nylon, you should need to know what nylon is. Nylon is a very flexible and shiny polymer. There are two most popular types of nylon, Nylon 6 and 66 which are used widely. It is used to make jackets, carpets, sleeping bags, climbing ropes, car seat belts, parachuting material, tarpaulin, dental floss, and many other items. Some of these include fiber, cordage, and other fabrics. It is also used to make different types of plastic items. Some examples of nylon are stockings and nylon hosiery. Suppose you are sublimating on a nylon t-shirt or jacket. In order to achieve a successful sublimation on nylon fabric, you should need to follow the instructions carefully. Let’s scroll down to the process.
Related Post: Can you sublimate on Canvas
If you are not interested in reading or you are in hurry. So, please watch this video to learn how to sublimate on nylon fabric.
Very Important Material Required Before Sublimate On Nylon
If you are ready to sublimate on nylon but do not know what things to consider before sublimation. Without that, working can be very difficult. Please Checkout this list.
- Best Sublimation Printer
- Heat Transfer Paper
- Adhesive Vinyl
- Parchment Paper
- Heat Press Machine
Process Of Nylon Sublimation
Here are some steps to follow for sublimating on nylon fabric.
Step 1. Create Design
Before the beginning, Make sure the design is already prepared. If you have no time to create a design so, purchase one that has already been prepared, and if you are interested in creating designs so go into any editing software like Coral draw, Adobe Illustrator, or Canva. Create your favorite design you want to print on nylon. I use Canva to create my designs because it offers a one-month free trial and pre-made templates. If you are still confused about which type of design you need. So many free samples are available on google, which you can use easily to pick for your project.
Step 2. Print Out Design
The next thing you need to do is to print out your design on heat transfer paper via the best sublimation printer because the sublimation printer gives you prints of excellent quality for your projects. As well as, Heat transfer paper is specially made for printing. This can be very helpful to you if you want to make your designs appear more authentic.
Step 3. Put Parchment Paper To Design
Now, Place the design in the heat press machine and cover it with adhesive vinyl. Ensure that the vinyl is going to stay on design. Do not forget to cover your design with parchment paper. Because it will make the design look more professional. After that, You should press the design for two minutes at a temperature of 275 degrees Celsius.
Step 4. Cut Out Your Design
After pressing, remove the adhesive vinyl from the design. Next, it’s time to cut the design. If the extra paper surrounds the design, you may easily cut that using a paper trimmer or scissors. Then you have to cut out the design and paste it on your nylon material.
Step 5. Iron the Nylon Material
Now, put your nylon material on the flat surface of the heat press machine. Then place the parchment paper on the nylon material. Remember that the parchment paper will prevent the material from sticking to the machine. Next, iron the nylon material in a heat press machine for 5 seconds.
Step 6. Arrange The Design
Your 6th step is to arrange the design on the nylon material. Then place the parchment paper on the design carefully.
Step 7. Apply Heat Press
When you’re finished arranging the design, press it for 50 seconds at a temperature of 240 degrees Celsius. After opening the heat press machine, remove the parchment paper from the design.
Step 8. Again Pressing
The last step is again placing the nylon fabric on the heat press machine and putting the parchment paper over the sublimated design. Then press for 5 seconds so that the design should stick strongly. After the entire process, you will see that you’ve mastered the art of sublimating on nylon.
Also Read: How to sublimate on dark t-shirt
Characteristics Of Nylon
- Nylon is a synthetic fiber. It has high tensile strength. Nylon is strong, durable, and long-lasting. It is more resistant to fading and tearing than other fabrics. It is also very flexible.
- Nylon is resistant to moisture and heat. Therefore it has low absorbency. It is a polymer with a molecular weight of 3,000 and a melting point of 180oC.
- Nylon does not irritate the skin. This can help you to avoid allergies. A lot of people use it for safety from skin infections.
Types of Fabrics Frequently Used
Polyester
Polyester is great for high-quality fiber that is usually used in making clothing items. It is a solid material that is popular for making clothing. Polyester is very light, soft, and durable. Many people wear polyester because it is lightweight and easy to wear. After that, it became a common material for plastic toys and other products. People use it to make things like shirts, pants, and jackets. In addition, polyester is commonly used in swimsuits because It doesn’t absorb water as much as cotton and doesn’t cling to your skin.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural fiber that grows from the seeds of the cotton plant. It is also one of the most muscular fibers in the world. Cotton is the most essential fiber used in the manufacturing of clothing. Cotton is soft, powerful, and flexible fiber. Because of these characteristics, cotton fibers are used to make clothing. The fabric made with pure cotton is the most comfortable and suitable for summer. Cotton is a popular material for children’s clothing. They prefer to wear cotton clothing because of the comfort and softness of the cotton. It is also papular material for making cotton t-shirts, blouses, jeans, and sweaters.
Nylon
Nylon is a synthetic fiber. It is a strong, resilient, and light fabric made from polyamide. It has great elasticity and durability. It is widely used in textiles. Nylon has been used as a substitute for natural materials such as silk. Most nylon garments are used in the manufacturing of stockings and hosiery. Nylon is available in a variety of colors and patterns. It manufactures various products, including fabric, cords, yarn, socks, rope, shoes, thread, fishing nets, fabrics, carpets, jackets, raincoats, tents, stockings, hair bands, and belts. The nylon material is resistant to moisture and heat. This is because it has low absorbency. It has been used to manufacture clothes for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions For Beginners
Is nylon good for sublimation?
Yes! You can use nylon for sublimation printing if you make sure that the items are not thin and lightweight. If you use light fabric, like polyester or cotton, be careful that it doesn’t melt and fuse during sublimation.
Which is better, polyester or nylon?
Polyester is very lightweight, solid, and very durable, but nylon is also robust and durable, but it is not as light as polyester. So you have to choose what is best for your purposes. But I prefer nylon because it is more flexible.
Is rayon the same as nylon?
No! Rayon is made from natural cellulose, whereas nylon is an artificial product. Rayon is an excellent fabric made from recycled cellulose (sugarcane fibers). Nylon is a synthetic textile fiber that has replaced cotton for many clothing uses.
Conclusion
Finally, we hope that you are now completely aware of the material and qualities of nylon and other fibers. I” ve shared in this post how you can sublimate on nylon and whether you should use one or another in making your clothes. We believe you now have enough knowledge to select suitable materials for your clothing. You will learn how to prepare your design, select a product, how to sublimate on nylon, and how finish your project.