What is Nylon (Polyamide)
Nylon is a strong, durable and versatile thermoplastic widely used in industrial manufacturing, electronics industry and the transportation industry. It is valued for its high strength, abrasion resistance, toughness, chemical resistance and resistance to wear making it suitable for components that experience repeated movement and mechanical stress. Nylon can be machined, injection moulded, extruded and 3D Printed, making it a versatile material for manufacturing.
What adhesives can bond Nylon?
Bonding Nylon isn't always straightforward and requires specialised industrial adhesives to bond it correctly. We recommend using methyl methacrylate adhesives when bonding Polyamides specifically our specialised Nylon bonder NEXTITE AB8110. Other adhesives like Structural Polyurethanes, Cyanoacrylates, Epoxies and UV Adhesives also work well when bonding Nylon.
Methacrylates (MMA)
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Strengths |
Structural adhesive, multi material bonding, toughened and flexible bond, fast cure at room temperature, good gap filling, good impact strength, widely used in industry manufacturing. |
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Limitations |
Generally viscosity is high, stronger odour, exothermic reaction (although limited). |
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Most Suitable |
NEXTITE AB8110 has been specifically designed for bonding difficult to bond materials like Polyamides (Nylon), Galvanised Assemblies and Zinc Coated Metals without the need for any primers or any extensive surface preparation. |
Instant Adhesives (Cyanoacrylates)
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Strengths |
Extremely fast fixture, high shear strength, no mixing (single part), great for high-speed production lines various grades available for different adhesive needs. |
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Limitations |
Limited gap filling capability without activators, lower impact and peel strength compared to other structural adhesives. |
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Most Suitable |
We recommend using one of our premium surface insensitive grades for best results when bonding nylon, although all grades of NEXTITE Instant Adhesives will bond Nylon. For General Purpose: NEXTITE 501 (Medium) For Impact Resistance: NEXTITE 535 (Medium, Clear) |
Structural Polyurethanes (2 Component)
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Strengths |
Structural adhesive, good flexibility, high peel strength, good impact strength, multi-material bonding, gap-filling |
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Limitations |
Long cure time at room temperature, strong odour, not as high strength as MMAs |
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Most Suitable |
NEXTITE SP300 is suitable for bonding Nylon. |
UV Adhesives
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Strengths |
Extremely high clarity joints that are bubble and blush free, easy to do extremely high-quality joinery, high joint strength, set the adhesive whenever you are ready. |
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Limitations |
Limited outdoor environmental exposure, higher set up cost, material MUST be UV transmissive to cure UV adhesive. Nylon blocks UV light, if curing through a clear substrate onto Nylon, UV can be a suitable option. |
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Most Suitable |
ACRI-BOND UV1035 (Wicking Grade), ACRI-BOND UV2046 (Medium Viscosity), ACRI-BOND UV3232 (Thick Viscosity). |
Epoxy Adhesives
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Strengths |
Very high strength, transparent options available, excellent chemical and temperature resistance, gap filling, controlled cure. |
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Limitations |
Most grades are not very flexible and fairly rigid, can only use two component epoxies (single part, heat cure ones will damage nylon in the process), epoxies can yellow overtime. |
Different Grades of Polyamide
There are many types and blends of polyamides, each offering different combinations of strength, stiffness, flexibility, chemical resistance and temperature resistance. Below are some of the most commonly used nylon grades and some composites.
Nylon PA6
PA6 (Polyamide 6) is one of the most widely used nylon grades. It offers a good balance of strength, toughness, wear resistance, low friction and flexibility. Which makes it suitable for a broad range of general purpose applications. PA6 also has a good resistance to oils, fuels and many chemicals.
Common applications: Automotive components, gears, bushings, bearings, cable ties, electrical components, machinery parts and 3D printed components.
Nylon PA66
PA66 (Polyamide 66) is similar to PA6 but generally offers higher stiffness, strength and temperature resistance. It performs well under mechanical and thermal stress as well as offering lower water absorption making it popular for demanding engineering applications. PA66 can be more rigid and less impact resistant than PA6.
Common Applications: Automotive components, engine-bay parts, electrical connectors, housings, brackets and industrial machinery components.
Nylon PA12
PA12 (Polyamide 12) is a more flexible and dimensionally stable nylon with low moisture absorption compared to PA6 and PA66. It offers good chemical resistance, toughness and impact resistance, while maintaining relatively good flexibility. Its lower moisture absorbtion can also help maintain more consistent dimensions and mechanical properites
Common applications: Tubing, pneumatic components, automotive parts, cable protection, medical components, seals and 3D printed parts.
Glass Filled Nylon
Glass filled nylon is nylon reinforced with glass fibres to increase its strength, stiffness, dimensional stability and temperature resistance. The addition of glass fibre can significantly improve mechanical performance, but it also makes the material more rigid.
Common applications: Automotive components, structural brackets, housings, gears, machinery components and other applications where higher stiffness and strength are required.
PA-CF
PA-CF (Carbon Fibre Infused Polyamide) comes in various grades of Polyamide (PA6, PA66, PA12 etc) and various infusions of carbon fibre (CF30 - 30% Carbon Fibre by Weight, CF40 - 40% Carbon Fibre by Weight, CF60 - 60% Carbon Fibre by Weight etc) The carbon fibre reinforcement provides increased stiffness, strength and dimensional stability compared with standard PA grades, while maintaining many of the benefits of Nylon. PA-CF is commonly used where lightweight components need to withstand high mechanical loads.
Common Applications: Engineering components, automotive parts, robotics, tooling, brackets, fixtures and high performance 3D printed components.
What Industries is Nylon used in?
Nylon is widely chosen for its strength, toughness, versatility and chemical resistance which makes it suitable for various applications. It can be machined, drilled, thermoformed, injection moulded and 3D printed to produce a wide range of functional products.
Common uses of material
Nylon is used across a wide range of industries and applications including:
- Automotive Components: Engine components, brackets, clips, fasteners, gears, bushings, housings and under-bonnet components.
- Industrial Machinery: Gears, bearings, rollers, wear components, guides and other mechanical parts.
- Electrical and Electronics: Connectors, cable ties, enclosures, insulators and electrical components.
- 3D Printing and Prototyping: Functional prototypes, brackets, fixtures, tooling and end-use components.
- Consumer Products: Handles, housings, fasteners, sporting goods, and other durable products
- Power Tools: Power tool housings
- Robotics and Automation: Gears, brackets, linkages, housings and lightweight mechanical components.
- Aerospace and Engineering: Lightweight structural and mechanical components where high strength, durability and dimensional stability are required.
Challenges with this material
- Relatively Low Surface Energy: Nylon has a relatively low surface energy which can prevent some adhesives from properly wetting out.
- Moisture Absorption: Nylon is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment. This can affect the long term bond if not selecting the right adhesive.
- Chemical Resistant: Can't use solvent adhesives to fuse nylon together.
- Smooth surface: Nylon can sometimes have slip additives which can make adhesion even harder.
Surface Preparation
Proper surface preparation is critical to achieving a strong and reliable bond when working with Nylon. Begin by lightly wiping the bonding area with NEXTITE PROPREP Surface Preparation Cleaner. This removes surface contaminants including dust, oils and residual adhesive that can interfere with bond strength. Allow the cleaner to fully evaporate before applying any adhesive. Mechanical abrasion can help increase bond strength can use sandpaper or a red Scotchbrite pad. If mechanically keying reapply cleaner to remove any residue before applying adhesive. Allow the cleaner to fully evaporate before applying any adhesive.
Summary
Choosing the best industrial adhesive to bond Nylon comes down to understanding the application requirements and performance required from the joint.
If you would like to speak to our expert team about your next project, please contact us for tailored advice and product recommendations to suit your application.