The term nylon is used for a broad range of synthetic polymers that are manufactured in a chemical process. Wallace Carothers at DuPont created the first nylon on 28 February 1935, and it is still one of the most widely used synthetic fabrics.

Nylon is created in a chemical plant using a controlled method of combining specific chemicals. Creating useful nylon is a two-step process: chemical combination to create the material itself and the manufacturing process required to make it useful.

In order to create nylon, the manufacturer combines two sets of molecules. One set has an acid group on each end and the other set has amine group on each end. The result of this combination is a substance that is known as nylon 6, 6. The name is based on the number of carbon atoms in the middle between the two acid groups and the two amines.

The other method of creating nylon is to combine the same molecules in a different structure. In this alternate method, the acidic molecules are all at one end of the structure and the amine molecules are all at the other. This compound is then polymerized into a chain of carbon atoms. Polymerization is the combining of molecules into a bonded chain.

The chemical reaction required to create nylon is conducted in a machine specially designed for this purpose at very high temperatures. Once the chemical compound is created, the chemicals have combined to form molten nylon. This semi-liquid material is then forced into a spinneret, which is used to separate the nylon into very thin strands.

When the nylon is moving through the spinneret, it is exposed to the air for the first time. The strands harden immediately and are wound onto bobbins. The fibers are stretched to create strength and elasticity as part of the nylon process. The nylon filaments are unwound and then rewound onto another, smaller spool. This process is called drawing and is used to align the molecules into a parallel structure.

Once the nylon has been wound onto the smaller spool, it is now ready for use. The spools can either be sold to another manufacturing plant, or used in the same facility. Nylon products are created by weaving the filaments together. The tighter the weave, the more strength the nylon fabric will have.

Nylon can also be mixed with other fibers to create combination materials. A combination of cotton and nylon produces a resilient material that holds its shape, but is soft to the touch. Nylon can also be woven into patterns to reinforce strength, improve appearance, or meet other design requirements.