DuPont Stainmaster
DuPont Stainmaster
The introduction of Dupont Stainmaster® in 1986 was simply the biggest
event in history to impact the carpet industry. Stainmaster propelled the carpet
industry into big business. Stainmaster was a breakthrough in carpet stain protection.
Prior to 1986, Scotchgard® soil treatment was the best hope for repelling
carpet stains. The Scotchgard® principal worked in the same manner in which
a Teflon® frying pan worked.
Both Teflon® and Scotchgard® initiated surface tension, and like wax
on a car, it allowed stains to bead on the surface. For most stains if you attempted
quick removal, most of the stain could be removed. However, these treatments
were principally soil treatments. Kool-aid®, Gatorade® and other food
items, which utilized acid-based dyes, would permanently stain most carpet fibers.
In fact, most food products utilize acid-based dyes and carpet, itself, is dyed
using acid-based dyes.
StainMaster was a breakthrough in that it resisted these acid-based dyes. In
simplistic terms, the chemists at DuPont realized that when carpet is dyed,
negatively charged dye particles attach to positively charged dye sites and
this enables the fiber to "hold" the dye. Once these dye site were
neutralized, they could not accept additional dye.
However, chemists learned that during the dye process, not all dye sites are
neutralized and these negatively charged dye sites could accept additional dye
from food products. The solution was simple. Introduce a clear, colorless dye
after carpet dyeing to neutralize the remaining dye sites and no more stains.
While no carpet is stain-proof, the process made carpet nearly stain proof.
Spills that are allowed to soak for extended periods will slowly begin to penetrate
dye sites, but the solution and results was nothing short of spectacular.
1986 was also a period of rapid change for the carpet industry. Initially,
only a few carpet manufacturers could purchase this new chemical and DuPont
allotted specific quantities of the chemical based on pounds of Dupont fiber
purchased. There were specific construction minimums and the chemistry only
could be used on certain yarn systems. The company for whom I worked at the
time, Salem Carpets, was lucky enough to be on the leading edge of development
and we were given first priority on fiber and chemistry.
Consumers became excited about this technology and "everyone" wanted
their old avocado, gold, rust, and dirt colored carpets replaced. All of the
sudden, White carpet became fashionable. Pastels were the rage and it seemed
as if everyone bought new carpet.
Then came the phone calls from consumers. In 1988, we began getting calls from
consumers complaining that their 2 year old carpet was dirty and they wanted
it replaced. For the next two years, the carpet industry continually told consumers
that Stainmaster did not prevent a carpet from getting dirty, it simply resisted
stains better than anything else. This event coincided with the "invention"
of carpet cleaning, or so it seems. Even today, if you want "white"
carpet, know this- It will show soil.
Without the invention of Stainmaster, the carpet Industry would not have matured
so quickly. While it is an excellent breakthrough technology, it is not bullet-proof.
However, I do wonder. Whatever happened to that devilish little kid that DuPont
used in its' commercials that made his mothers' life a living hell?
Article by Michael Hilton of carpetbuyershandbook.com - the Largest Online
Source for Unbiased Carpet Information (http://carpetbuyershandbook.com)
| Get
Your Free Email Mini-Course!
"The Tricks and Traps of Buying Carpet"
Jam-packed with tips, tricks and advice for anyone who's
looking to purchase new carpeting for their home!
Enter your name and email below now and get the
first part sent to you in a matter of seconds!
*Your
information will never be sold or disclosed to anyone. We respect your
privacy and hate junk email as much as you do! |
| 
