Moreover, the production of nylon depends on the petroleum industry and heavy manufacturing: sources of pollution. Therefore, nylon did not necessarily make the world a better place.
The invention of nylon proved to be a mixed blessing. Used in parachutes and tent materials during World War Two, nylon did open up a wealth of possibilities for modernization and technological innovation (Agogino 2007). Few commercial sectors today do not rely at least in part on nylon. Musicians string their guitars with nylon strings; sailors rely on nylon sails; and dentists give their patients toothbrushes with nylon bristles. Yet the clothing industry was perhaps the one most affected by the introduction of nylon to the market. At the 1939 World's Fair in New York City DuPont introduced the first commercial product using nylon: stockings. The stockings were marketed mainly to women, and became so popular that they were soon referred to not as stockings but as "nylons." In fact, the DuPont Company purposesly refused to trademark the word "nylon" so that the term would become synonymous with women's leg coverings (Bellis nd). Nylons were so popular and inexpensive to produce that their use became practically requisite. Unfortunately,...
As much as ten percent of atmospheric nitrous oxide, one of the greenhouse gases, is caused by the production of nylon (Agogino 2007).
References
Short History of Manufactured Fibers." Fibersource.com. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/history.htm
Agogino, a. (2007). Engineering Education "Today in History" Blog: Nylon first manufactured. NSDL Pathways News. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/pathwaysnews/2007/12/15/engineering-education-today-in-history-blog-nylon-first-manufactured/
Bellis, M. (nd). A history of pantyhose? About.com. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpantyhose.htm
Hegde, R.R., Dahiya, a. & Kamath, M.G. (2004). Nylon fibers. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://www.engr.utk.edu/mse/pages/Textiles/Nylon%20fibers.htm
Nylon: A Brief History of Its Inception at DuPont." Nylon History.org. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://nylonhistory.org/
Nylons." Polymer Science Learning Center: University of Southern Mississippi. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://pslc.ws/macrog/nylon.htm
