Nylon Gaskets and Seals

Nylon is the commonly used name for a family of engineering thermoplastics known as polyamides, or PA materials. Common engineering grades include PA6 and PA66.

Nylon provides a useful balance of mechanical strength, toughness, wear resistance and electrical insulation, making it suitable for a wide variety of precision non-metallic components.

Nylon combines strength and toughness with relatively low weight and good resistance to wear.

These characteristics make it particularly suitable for accurately cut gaskets, interface components, separators and sealing rings where dimensional control and mechanical durability are more important than substantial compression.

Nylon is considerably more rigid than elastomeric materials such as EPDM, nitrile or silicone rubber and is therefore not normally selected where significant compression is required to create a pressure-tight seal.

It is better suited to precision gaskets, sealing rings and interface components where strength, separation, insulation and controlled dimensions are important.

Yes. Nylon provides good wear and abrasion resistance and is widely used for components within mechanically demanding assemblies.

Its combination of toughness and wear performance can make nylon suitable for components that experience repeated contact, movement or general mechanical loading.

Yes. Nylon provides good electrical insulating properties and is widely used for non-conductive components within electrical and electronic equipment.

Actual electrical performance depends upon the nylon grade, thickness, moisture content and operating conditions.

Nylon provides good resistance to many oils, greases and lubricants and can therefore be suitable for a range of mechanical and industrial applications.

Compatibility with a particular fluid should nevertheless be considered where exposure is prolonged or where chemicals, elevated temperatures or demanding process conditions are involved.

Yes. Nylon can absorb moisture from the surrounding environment.

Moisture absorption can cause changes in dimensions and mechanical properties, so it should be considered where very close tolerances, prolonged water exposure or changing humidity levels form part of the application.

Nylon can be used in many applications involving water, but its tendency to absorb moisture needs to be taken into account.

Where extremely low water absorption and maximum dimensional stability are required, an alternative engineering plastic such as acetal may be more appropriate.

The operating temperature of nylon depends upon the particular polyamide grade, component thickness, mechanical loading and application conditions.

Different nylon materials have different thermal capabilities, so the intended operating environment should be reviewed before selecting the most appropriate grade.

Standard nylon is a versatile general-purpose engineering plastic offering a good balance of strength, toughness, wear resistance and cost.

Nylatron is a family of specialist engineering nylon grades developed to provide enhanced characteristics such as improved wear resistance, friction performance, dimensional stability or load-bearing capability. Nylatron may therefore be preferred for more demanding mechanical applications.

Both nylon and acetal are strong engineering plastics suitable for precision non-metallic components.

Nylon generally provides excellent toughness and good wear resistance, while acetal absorbs significantly less moisture and normally provides greater dimensional stability in wet or humid conditions. The best material depends upon the mechanical, environmental and dimensional requirements of the application.

Yes. Bluemay Weston manufactures bespoke nylon gaskets and sealing components to customer drawings, dimensions, samples and specifications.

Components can be produced in simple circular and rectangular formats as well as complex profiles incorporating apertures, fixing holes, slots and other features.

Bluemay Weston manufactures nylon gaskets and sealing components from sheet material using precision punching and water jet cutting techniques.

Punching provides an efficient manufacturing method for suitable repeat quantities, whilst water jet cutting is particularly useful for prototypes, lower-volume production, larger components and complex profiles where dedicated tooling may not be appropriate.

Bluemay Weston can manufacture nylon gaskets and sealing components in quantities ranging from prototypes and small development batches through to high-volume production runs of many thousands or millions of components, depending on component size, material specification and customer requirements.