{"id":2086,"date":"2021-06-15T00:47:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T00:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sybridge.com\/?p=2086"},"modified":"2023-08-25T10:42:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T15:42:19","slug":"know-your-materials-acetal-and-nylon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sybridge.com\/know-your-materials-acetal-and-nylon\/","title":{"rendered":"Know Your Materials: Acetal vs. Nylon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Previously published on fastradius.com on June 15, 2021<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Engineering plastics, a group of plastics that have better mechanical and thermal properties than other plastics, are often used as replacements for traditional engineering materials such as wood, metal, or rubber. Two of the most commonly used engineering plastics are acetal (known by many names like Delrin and POM) and nylon, which both offer low coefficients of friction and excellent durability. These two materials can also be used for many of the same applications, such as bearings, bushing, and high-performance gears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since there\u2019s so much overlap between nylon and acetal, it can be difficult to grasp the key differences between the two and choose one over the other. Here\u2019s everything product teams need to know about nylon and acetal, plus how they can determine which is better for their project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overview of Nylon Plastic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like other plastics, nylons<\/a> are made by distilling hydrocarbon fuels. There are two main processes by which nylons are created \u2014 polymerization and polycondensation. Polycondensation involves the reaction of a diamine with dicarboxylic acids and results in the formation of a more biodegradable nylon. Polymerization, on the other hand, involves reacting amine monomers with carboxylic acid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nylon\u2019s semi-crystalline structure provides a high level of stiffness, strength, chemical resistance, and heat resistance. For these reasons, nylon is ideal for applications involving friction, such as gears or bearings. However, nylon tends to absorb moisture from its surroundings, which can have a negative impact on a part\u2019s stability and functionality, and it isn\u2019t inherently resistant to UV light. Luckily, the use of preconditioning treatments can mitigate both of these effects and reduce damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numerous types of nylon are all identifiable by number. The three most common types of nylon are Nylon 6, Nylon 66, and Nylon 12<\/a>, and the physical and chemical properties of nylon will vary by type. Some key mechanical specifications for unreinforced Nylon 6, for example, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n