Meaning and Conversion Formula of cN/tex and cN/den

In the industrial fiber market, many buyers request tensile‐strength data in different measurement units.

Europe primarily uses cN/tex, while the U.S. and many Asian countries rely on cN/den, which often leads to confusion because the same fiber can appear different depending on the notation system.

In this post, we clearly explain the conversion formula between cN/tex and cN/den, along with the regions where each measurement unit is commonly used.

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Basic Concepts of cN/tex and cN/den

cN is an abbreviation for centiNewton.

Since the basic unit of force used in fiber testing is the Newton, the fiber industry—which typically measures relatively small forces—uses cN as the standard unit.

Therefore, cN/tex or cN/den represents “the amount of force a fiber can withstand per unit of fineness (per tex or per denier).”

cN/tex (centiNewton per tex):1 tex = the mass of 1 g per 1,000 m of fiber.

cN/den (centiNewton per denier):1 den = the mass of 1 g per 9,000 m of fiber.

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Conversion Formula

So, how do we convert between these units?

The exact conversion ratios are as follows:

cN/den = (cN/tex) ÷ 9cN/tex = (cN/den) × 9

1 cN/den equals 9 cN/tex,and 1 cN/tex equals 0.111 cN/den.

These formulas are based on the relationship 1 tex = 9 denier.

• To convert 270 cN/den into tex units, multiply 270 by 9 → 2,430 cN/tex.

• If the value is 38 cN/tex, divide 38 by 9 → 4.22 cN/den.

Value	Conversion	Result
1 cN/tex → cN/den	1 ÷ 9	0.111 cN/den
1 cN/den → cN/tex	1 × 9	9 cN/tex
27 cN/den → cN/tex	27 × 9	243 cN/tex

In other words, if you want to convert den to tex, multiply by 9, and if you want to convert tex to den, divide by 9.

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Comparison of Measurement Standards by Region/Country

■ Regions Using the cN/tex Standard

• Europe (EU): Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, etc.

• Countries that follow ISO standards

• Most widely used in the geotextile and industrial nonwoven markets

European civil engineering, filtration, and automotive nonwoven sectors primarily follow ISO testing methods such as ISO 10319 and ISO 9073, so the tex unit is preferred.

■ Regions Using the cN/den Standard

• United States (ANSI/ASTM based)

• Korea, China, Japan, and most Asian countries

• Also widely used in the textile, filament, and fashion industries

The Asian PET staple fiber market has traditionally defined specifications using the denier system.

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Which Standard Should Be Used for Product Development?

If your target market is geotextiles or industrial nonwovens,→ it is advantageous to follow the cN/tex standard (EU-oriented markets).

If your focus is on bedding, cushions, or apparel filling materials,→ the cN/den standard is more natural (Asian and U.S. buyers).

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Although cN/tex and cN/den use different units, accurate conversion is possible as long as you understand the simple formulas “×9 / ÷9.”

Since each country prefers different measurement standards, providing accurate data that matches the buyer’s requirements is a critical factor in international trade.