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Antonio Abad
(tonyabad) - F
The Straight Dope on DEET and Nylon on 05/30/2006 15:30:41 MDT Print View

Does DEET damage nylon? I was convinced that it did simply because everyone else said so. Now I am not so sure. Thoughts?
Rick Dreher
(halfturbo) - MLife

Locale: Northernish California
 		Re: The Straight Dope on DEET and Nylon on 05/30/2006 15:47:06 MDT Print View

I have not seen it damage nylon, but I have see it damage the coating on waterproofed nylon. I most commonly see it damaging (surface-etching/melting) certain hard plastics and painted surfaces.
Antonio Abad
(tonyabad) - F
RE: The Straight Dope on DEET and Nylon on 05/30/2006 17:41:00 MDT Print View

What about stretch woven softshell material that have some amount of spandex? Are they particularly vulnerable to DEET?
Rick Dreher
(halfturbo) - MLife

Locale: Northernish California
 		Re: The Straight Dope on DEET and Nylon on 05/30/2006 17:51:31 MDT Print View

Spandex is apparently damaged by DEET, so stretchy fabrics containing it would be out (good question!).

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