Nylon® represents a family of synthetic polymers and is a thermoplastic material. It is made of repeating units linked by peptide bonds (another name for amide bonds) and is frequently referred to as polyamide (PA). Nylon® was the first commercially successful polymer and the first synthetic fiber to be made entirely from the ingredients coal, water and air. These are formed into monomers of intermediate molecular weight, which are then reacted to form long polymer chains. Nylon® fibers are now used in fabrics and ropes, and solid Nylon® is used for mechanical parts and as an engineering material. Engineering grade Nylon® is processed by extrusion, casting & injection molding. Type 6/6 Nylon® 101 is the most common commercial grade of Nylon®, and Nylon® 6 is the most common commercial grade of cast Nylon®.
View the Nylon® Materials Properties Chart
Material Highlights:
- Lightweight
- Extremely good wear resistance
- High tensile strength and modulus of elasticity
- High impact resistance
- High heat distortion temperature
- Resists wear, abrasion and vibration
- Withstands sustained contact with chemicals
- Melts instead of burns
Applications:
- Replacements for low-to-medium stress components previously made of metal
- Mechanical parts
- Nylon® fibers for fabrics and ropes
- Military