A new subclass in polyester carpet fiber

CALHOUN, GA — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recognized that PTT fiber, the fiber used in Mohawk Industries' SmartStrand® carpets and that DuPont sells under the brand name Sorona® is worthy of its own subclass called triexta, according to FloorBiz.com.


With its extreme durability, unrivaled stain resistance and unmatched softness, triexta has been determined to be superior to standard polyester and shares little more than a similar chemical structure, the story stated.


Jeff Lorberbaum, Mohawk’s Chairman and CEO, said: "We petitioned the FTC for reclassification because our retail partners told us that the current generic name was misleading to consumers and that retailers found it difficult to clearly communicate the benefits of this different and superior product when it fell into the same category as traditional polyester products. We are thrilled with the FTC’s ruling, particularly because of the business benefits it brings to our retailers. Carpets with triexta offer a true performance advantage to consumers."


The creation of the triexta subclass gives retailers the ability to emphasize and focus on the outstanding features and benefits of the product, instead of defending the negative perceptions sometimes accompanied with the word polyester, the story noted.


According to the story, Mohawk Industries and DuPont jointly petitioned the FTC in 2006 to establish a new fiber subclass within the existing classification of polyester.


This is the first extension that the FTC has approved for textiles in five years and the first extension for residential carpeting since nylon in June of 1959, the story added.