There are three major fibres that are used in Australian carpets. These are wool, nylon and polypropylene. Some carpets use a combination of fibres. A common combination is 80% wool and 20% nylon. Each fibre has their own strengths and are constructed using various manufacturing processes.

Wool - The King of Carpets
By many to be considered as the best carpet yarn, it offers a wide range of natural qualities that prolong its durability and appearance. Wool carpet has a natural resilience, is non-flammable, does not build up static electricity, has a high soil resistance and provides for ease of cleaning. Wool carpet is appreciated by those with a sense of value for high quality fibres.

Wool Blends
Other fibres, which are mainly man made synthetics, are blended with the wool to create extra toughness and durability, as well as making the wool carpet more affordable. This high quality carpet will appear and perform like wool but at a fraction of the cost of 100% wool.

Polypropylene
This is also a man made fibre, and although it is very durable, it is better suited for the manufacture of dense loop pile carpets. It is missing the resilience of wool or nylon, but it displays very good stain resistant qualities and is naturally anti-static.

Nylon
Todays nylon carpets have been specially designed with man made fibre, which are very strong, and produce special durability. Ease of cleaning is the result of mill treatment for stain protection, and the better quality nylon carpets retain excellent appearance. A wide range of colours are available as the raw nylon fibre is white. Amongst the range are de-lustered nylons which provide a more wool like appearance.

The choice of a fibre should be based on intended use, appearance and cost. No one carpet fibre is the same. There are two classes of fibre; natural, like wool or cotton etc and man made, such as nylon, polypropylene etc. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

The following information is intended to help you select the fibre best suited to your needs.