PET carpet has been in use since 1991 and is going strong. Some people, however, still run into the crusty old salesperson who remembers the terrible polyester carpet of the 70’s and 80’s that would crush flat within days of installation. This is not the same material and it’s a shame that some people just can’t get over the past.
First, check out the graphic below to see how it’s made.
PET fiber has been in use for a few years now. In fact, this fiber is exciting in more than one way.
It’s softer than nylon.
It’s green – made from recycled soda and ketchup bottles.
That story alone (the soda bottle story) usually grabs attention faster than anything else. Imagine a carpet made from 100% post-consumer waste. Of course, this is the fiber and not the backing, but it’s still something to get excited about.
The above image shows the steps in the process:
A – used soda/water bottles are collected
B – they are cleaned and ground into chips
C – the chips are sent to
D – the extrusion processor that turns them into
E – bales of yarn ready to be turned into
F – carpet!
Here are some of the advantages of PET fiber
Superior resistance to soils & stains.
Superb abrasion and wear resistance.
Bright coloration with excellent colorfastness.
Soft feel.
Fibers with static control.
Low moisture absorption.
Over 150 million yards installed since 1991.
Competitively-priced – more face weight for your money.
I get a lot of inquiries about this process and how the fiber holds up over time. Feel free to leave a comment or send an email.
I’ve said it myself, but it looks like Martha has more clout. In the video, you see Martha actually pour red wine onto the carpet and blot it out… that’s taking a chance. Between Martha Stewart and HGTV’s endorsement of SmartStrand fiber, I can understand why we are so busy selling this great carpet.
Not only is it incredibly stain-resistant, it’s quite green, requiring much less energy to produce than its nylon contemporaries. I’ve installed a large section in my showroom and it’s held up amazingly well. Stop by and check it out!
All the best,
If you have carpet installed over pad in your home, chances are you’ve moved your furniture to find indentations that just don’t go away. You may have tried to rub it with your fingers, vacuum it, all to no avail. Before giving up, try ice cubes.
I’m not kidding… a simple ice cube allowed to sit atop the indentation will almost always do the trick.
Check out this video by Martha Stewart showing just how easy it is.
Good luck!
I get inquiries daily regarding this or that fiber and specific end-use applications. As a US Green Building Council LEED AP, my favorites are the ones looking for balance between stain resistance and eco-friendly attributes. Of course, past posts have shown my bias for SmartStrand, but I had no role in the production of the following video clips.
But oh, how I truly enjoy them and hope you do too!
The following points give a glimpse as to why this may be the fiber to watch in the near future. Click here to learn more about the LEED rating system.
- The production of Sorona® polymer requires 30 percent less energy than the production of an equal amount of nylon.
- Greenhouse gas emissions from the production of Sorona® are 63 percent lower than nylon manufacturing.
- Every seven yards of SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona saves enough energy and resources to equal one gallon of gasoline—that’s ten million gallons of gasoline a year!
At Alexandria Carpet One Floor & Home we have had great success with this newest of fibers. In fact, it is installed in our showroom and gets more use than your average residential application… and it is holding up beautifully. The softness itself is reason alone to spark interest. But it is the cleanability that customers have shown to be the biggest draw.
Following is a testimonial from a rarely-heard segment of our industry, the independent testing agency:
Independent Textile Testing Service, Inc.
“Over the past 10 years we have been involved in extensive testing of the PTT fiber pertaining to carpet usage. Testing has included everything from pedestrian traffic, soiling, staining, static, colorfastness to atmospheric contaminants, flammability and many others. Based on our experience with the PTT fiber, it would seem that the test results consistently show a marked difference when compared to PET in regards to performance…It is of our opinion that the differences shown do indeed indicate that a need for a separate classification is a good idea. It would be very difficult to continue to try and let the marketplace separate these on its own. PTT indeed performs much better in general than PET in traffic ratings and it would benefit the consumer to know that there were distinct differences, thereby eliminating PET from being confused with PTT. We think a separate class of fiber generic name would be in good order and an overall benefit to end users.”
We look forward to seeing this fiber gain in popularity as it has over the past 4 years. I believe that if it were going to fail, it would have fallen by the wayside quickly. It looks like that just isn’t the case and as a LEED Accredited Professional dedicated to sustainability in the flooring industry I couldn’t be more satisfied.
Here is more information straight from Mohawk’s website regarding specific results:
Wear (Walk test)
SmartStrand fibers bend easily, rebound quickly and are amazingly durable. A test with over 20,000 foot traffics proved SmartStrand’s superior resiliency and crush resistance. In durability comparisons, nylon performed well, but SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona Polymer performed better.
Wear (Hexapod Test)
SmartStrand also underwent rigorous mechanical testing designed to simulate actual walk tests, but in a much shorter time period. Results confirmed…SmartStrand is the best.
Stain Protection
This is where Mohawk SmartStrand really excels. The SmartStrand fiber has engineered-in stain protection. Most stains (even the really stubborn ones such as hot coffee, mustard, red wine, tea, juice, shoe polish and more) are easily lifted with water and mild detergent or Floor Care Essentials. Even more impressive, SmartStrand fiber is resistant to discoloration from bleach. The leading nylon brands contain topically applied protection on the surface of the fiber that can wash and wear off. SmartStrand stain protection does not contain any topically applied protection (it’s built-in) and it will never wash or wear off. NEVER!
Soiling
SmartStrand’s unbeatable built-in stain protection also works against soiling, providing significantly better resistance and removal compared to nylon.
Static
For eliminating uncomfortable static, SmartStrand gets another “excellent” rating versus nylon’s “poor” rating. SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona Polymer is the clear choice in static protection.
Colorfastness
Customers that choose beautiful SmartStrand carpets in any style or color will be pleased by the long-term protection from fading, UV light and ozone discolorations. Color fastness is just one more “excellent” rating for SmartStrand.
Exceptional Comfort & Confidence
Every day, SmartStrand carpet pass another important test for consumers; the softness test. SmartStrand carpets are installed in thousands of homes and Mohawk customers have praised the elegant looks, gentle feel and supreme comfort. Free of harsh topically applied chemicals, SmartStrand’s fresh, pure and soft fibers provide a cleaner, healthier interior environment for consumers.
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