{"id":1556,"date":"2020-08-10T18:51:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T18:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sybridge.com\/?p=1556"},"modified":"2023-06-28T02:07:18","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T02:07:18","slug":"know-your-materials-nylon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sybridge.com\/know-your-materials-nylon\/","title":{"rendered":"Know Your Materials: Nylon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Previously published on fastradius.com on August 10, 2020<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nylons are a family of strong engineering plastics. Nylons are low-friction plastics, which makes them ideal for replacing metal components like bearings or bushings. Additionally, nylons create less operating noise and wear on mating parts, often allowing for external lubrication to be removed from the component application entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nylons are thermoplastics (as opposed to thermosets<\/a>), or synthetic polymers that are extremely workable when heated to high temperatures, yet set firmly when cooled. Many nylons have both amorphous and crystalline microstructures when cooled, giving the material elasticity as well as rigidity and stiffness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A versatile class of materials, nylons can also be combined with a range of additives to create specific material and chemical properties, which has led to their widespread use in commercial applications ranging from fabric to automotive and electrical molding. This versatility also extends to production, as nylons are compatible with both additive and traditional manufacturing methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is Nylon Made?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Similar to other plastics, nylons are created by distilling hydrocarbon fuels, which are then introduced to catalysts that produce the plastic polymers. Nylons are typically created in one of two processes: polymerization and polycondensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polymerization creates nylon material by reacting amine monomers (groups of NH2 molecules) with carboxylic acid (COOH), while polycondensation involves the reaction diamine (molecules with two NH2 groups) with dicarboxylic acid (which has two COOH groups).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nylons created through polycondensation tend to be more biodegradable than those made from addition polymers<\/a>. Nylons can also be created from biomass, which can also contribute to increased material biodegradability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Properties and Mechanical Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The semi-crystalline microstructure of nylon materials provides both stiffness and strength, in addition to good chemical resistance. Nylons are also resistant to heat and are therefore ideal for applications involving friction. As thermoplastics, nylons can also be reheated, molded, and cooled multiple times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that nylon absorbs moisture from its surroundings, which can negatively impact a component\u2019s dimensional stability. Nylons that have greater impact resistance and flexibility also tend to absorb more moisture, though this depends on the material\u2019s crystallinity, the part thickness, and the temperature of the component\u2019s environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nylons can also be preconditioned to help mitigate the effects of moisture absorption. Additionally, it is worth noting that nylon is not inherently resistant to UV light, though stabilizers can be incorporated into the material to reduce damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chemical and physical characteristics of the material will of course vary depending on the specific type of nylon, but here are some of the key mechanical specifications for unreinforced Nylon 6:<\/p>\n\n\n\n