Nylon Plastic

Nylon plastic is a strong, stiff mechanical and engineering machinable thermoplastic with outstanding toughness, dimensional stability, and wear resistance.

Perfect for bearing and wear applications, nylon is frequently used to replace metal bearings and bushings, many times eliminating need for external lubrication.

Nylon has served well in replacing many metals and offers a design choice when noise reduction and long life are important.

Other benefits include a reduction in part weight, less operating noise, and decreased wear on mating parts.

What is cast nylon?

Cast nylon, also called type 6 nylon, is a versatile thermoplastic with excellent bearing and wear properties. It is more cost-effective, machinable, and dimensionally stable than its extruded counterpart. Cast nylon is often used for producing larger, thicker shapes and custom cast parts. It is favored for higher temperatures over extruded nylon due to its higher maximum operating temperature.

Cast nylon inherently has less stress versus extruded nylon. Lower moisture absorption gives cast nylon a higher dimensional stability, while the more crystalline structure of cast nylon gives it higher strength.

What is extruded nylon?

Extruded nylon, also called type 6/6 nylon, is an engineering thermoplastic with many similar properties to cast nylon. Like cast nylon, it is a lightweight material compared to metal and is often used to replace metal parts in bearing and wear applications.

Extruded nylon's low coefficient of friction reduces or eliminates the need for external lubrication, potentially extending service life and reducing wear of mating parts. It exhibits excellent resistance to both chemicals and moisture.

What is nylon MD?

Nylon is available in a variety of specialty formulations. Molybdenum disulphide-filled (MD) and oil-filled nylons have enhanced wear and mechanical properties, while heat stabilized nylon will withstand higher operating temperatures.

What is nylon NSM?

Nylatron NSM was developed for demanding applications where larger size parts are required.

[Nylon Spec Sheet PDF]

• High toughness, strong and stiff
• High dimensional stability
• Wear resistant
• Can many times replace metal bearings and bushings
• Many times eliminates need for external lubrication.
• Good chemical resistance
• Easy to machine
• FDA compliant grades available
• Glass-filled grades available
  

Nylon is used in many mechanical, textile, injection molding, and medical applications. Nylon in non-fibrous castable form is used almost exclusively for mechanical purposes such as gears and sprockets. In fibrous forms, Nylon has many textile applications.

• Mechanical: Bearings and bushings, gears, machine screws, low/medium stress components, machinery components, Seals and gaskets, wear pads, wheels and rollers
   
• Textile: fibers used for fabrics, veils, carpets, musical instrument strings, rope, threads, nets, tire cords, garments
   
• Casting & Injection Molding: hair combs, spudgers, gun frames
   
• Medical: surgical sutures