GENERAL DESCRIPTION 

 

Nylon is one of the most widely used plastics in the world, especially as a bearing and wear material. Nylons are frequently used as replacements for bronze, brass, aluminum, steel and other metals, as well as other plastics, wood, and rubber. 

Nylons offer extremely good wear resistance, coupled with high tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. They also have high impact resistance, a high heat distortion temperature, and resist wear, abrasion, and vibration. In addition, nylons can withstand sustained contact with a wide variety of chemicals, alkalies, dilute acids or oxidizing agents. 

Another important factor, both economically and mechanically, is the relative light weight of nylon -- approximately 1/8 the weight of bronze, 1/7 the weight of cast iron, and 1/2 the weight of aluminum -- which reduces both the inertial and static loads and eases the handling of large components during maintenance or replacement procedures.

 

 

REPRESENTATIVE CAST NYLON GRADES 
  MC^®907, MC^®901 - Cast Unfilled Nylon 6
Unmodified cast type 6 nylon offers the highest strength and hardness of the nylon 6 grades. MC907, the natural grade (off-white in color), is FDA, USDA and 3A-Dairy compliant and is primarily used for food contact parts. A heat-stabilized grade, MC901, (Blue in color) offers thermal stability to 260°F, and is used in bearing and structural applications, such as wheels, gears, and custom parts. 

Nylatron^® GSM - Cast Moly-Filled Nylon 6
Finely divided particles of "Moly" (molybdenum disulfide -- MoS₂) are dispersed evenly throughout the nylon material during polymerization. The Moly particles act as a dry lubricant to enhance nylon's load bearing and wear capabilities while maintaining impact strength and toughness. It is most commonly used for gears, sheaves, sprockets and custom parts. It is Dark Grey in color. 

Nyloil^® - Cast Oil-Filled Nylon 6
Simply put, this is a cast nylon with built-in oil lubrication. During the manufacturing process, oil lubrication is completely and evenly dispersed throughout the cast nylon, making it an integral part of the material's structure that cannot spin out, dry out, or drain out, even under the harshest working conditions. This oil-filler reduces friction by as much as 25% at the bearing interface, and can result in longer wear life than unfilled or moly-filled cast nylons. The standard grade isGreen in color, but a natural (off-white) colored FDA & USDA approved grade is also available. 

Nylatron^® GSM Blue - Cast Moly- & Oil-Filled Nylon 6
This grade combines both molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and oil for the load capability of Nylatron GSM nylon, plus improved frictional characteristics. It excels in higher pressures and at low speeds. It is Dark Blue-Gray in color. 

Nylatron^® NSM - Cast Solid-Lubricant-Filled Nylon 6
This grade offers the best bearing and wear properties available. Solid lubricant additives, evenly dispersed throughout the nylon material, imparts self-lubricating, high PV, and superior wear characteristics. ThisGray colored nylon grade is ideal for larger size parts, bearings, gears, and wear pads. 
 

 

TYPICAL PROPERTIES of CAST NYLONS
ASTM or UL test	Property	Nylon 6 MC907,901 Unfilled	Nyloil Oil-Filled	Nylatron GSM Moly-Filled	Nylatron GSM Blue Moly & Oil	Nylatron NSM Solid-Lube
PHYSICAL
D792	Density (lb/in³) (g/cm³)	0.042 1.15	0.042 1.16	0.042 1.16	0.042 1.15	0.042 1.15
D570	Water Absorption, 24 hrs (%) Saturation (%)	0.3 7.0	0.5 2.5	0.3 7.0	0.22 -	0.25 7.0
MECHANICAL
D638	Tensile Strength (psi)	12,000	10,000	10,500	10,000	11,000
D638	Tensile Modulus (psi)	400,000	425,000	400,000	500,000	410,000
D638	Tensile Elongation at Break (%)	20	50	30	35	20
D790	Flexural Strength (psi)	16,000	15,000	16,000	15,000	16,000
D790	Flexural Modulus (psi)	500,000	425,000	400,000	425,000	400,000
D695	Compressive Strength (psi)	15,000	13,000	14,000	13,000	14,000
D695	Compressive Modulus (psi)	400,000	325,000	400,000	425,000	400,000
D785	Hardness, Rockwell R	R115	R110	R110	R117	R110
D256	IZOD Notched Impact (ft-lb/in)	0.4	1.6	0.5	0.9	0.5
THERMAL
D696	Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (x 10-5in./in./°F)	3.5	3.5	3.5	5.9	5.0
D648	Heat Deflection Temp (°F / °C) at 264 psi	200 / 93	350 / 177	200 / 93	-	200 / 93
D3418	Melting Temperature (°F / °C)	420 / 215	450 / 232	420 / 215	420 / 215	420 / 215
-	Max Operating Temp (°F / °C)	200 / 93	230 / 110	200 / 93	200 / 93	200 / 93
C177	Thermal Conductivity (BTU-in/ft²-hr-°F) (x 10-4cal/cm-sec-°C)	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
UL94	Flammability Rating	HB	-	HB	-	HB
ELECTRICAL
D149	Dielectric Strength (V/mil) short time, 1/8" thick	500	550	400	-	400
D150	Dielectric Constant at 60 Hz	3.7	3.7	3.7	-	-
D150	Dissipation Factor at 60 Hz	-	-	-	-	-
D257	Volume Resistivity (ohm-cm) at 73°F, 50% RH	> 1013	-	> 1013	> 1013	> 1013