Since 1927, New Process Fibre Company, Inc. (NPF) has been committed to innovation in manufacturing processes and material selection. Our family-owned business specializes in standard and custom stamping and fabrication for non-metallic components across industries. We couple our extensive expertise with comprehensive in-house services, cutting-edge technology, and our quality assurance program to guarantee our customers reliable non-metallic parts to suit an array of applications and environments.
Of the many materials we stock and utilize in production, cost-effective nylon can serve as a replacement for metal in components like washers, spacers, and gaskets. We work with several varieties including nylon 6/6, which is a strong, durable, high-performance formulation. This time-tested material supports a versatile array of products and applications.
What Is Nylon 6/6?
Developed in the 1930s, nylon 6/6, also known as nylon 66, nylon 6,6, nylon 6-6, polyamide 66, and PA66, is a synthetic engineering thermoplastic polymer applicable in everything from electronics and appliances to healthcare and pharmaceuticals. It’s an economical and versatile material that balances tensile strength, heat resistance, and ductility, making it an optimal choice for thin- or thick-walled parts with complex profiles. While it’s similar to nylon 6, nylon 6/6 employs a different chemical process for production, resulting in a more ordered and crystalline molecular structure that improves its strength, performance, and related mechanical properties.
Why Use Nylon 6/6 Over Nylon 6?
These nylon polymers share many beneficial properties. Compared with nylon 6, however, nylon 6/6 offers:
- Enhanced mechanical properties, including impact resistance and stiffness
- Increased durability and tensile strength
- Fasteners
- Higher dimensional stability
- Higher abrasion resistance
- Improved performance in higher temperatures
- Higher melting point and continuous service temperature
- Better resistance to acids
- Slower water absorption
Nylon 6/6 is generally the better choice for applications involving extended exposure to heat, moisture, and harsh chemicals as well as those requiring reliable long-term durability.
How Is Nylon 6/6 Prepared?
Synthesizing nylon 6/6 starts with equal parts of adipic acid and the compound hexamethylenediamine combined with water in a polycondensation process, generating a salt of ammonium and carboxylate. With heat applied, the mixture releases water, triggering a polymerization reaction that results in amide bond formations to create nylon 6/6. Manufacturers can granulate or extrude the material or form filaments as it cools, readying the nylon 6/6 for further processing or fabrication projects.
What Are the Properties of Nylon 6/6?
Nylon 6/6 is a highly resilient material that’s easy to fabricate, lending its benefits to widespread applications. The material offers high resistance to impact, abrasion, and general wear, and it won’t cause abrasion on other materials. It also provides good resistance to organic chemicals, hydrocarbons, acids, and alkalies compared to general-use plastics.
Nylon 6/6 has the ability to maintain its performance in continuous service temperatures up to 210° F, and it’s also electrically insulative. With a low coefficient of friction, the material works with or without lubricants. It even has noise-dampening capabilities.
Applications of Nylon 6/6
With uses in markets ranging from automotive, aerospace, and medical/pharmaceutical to industrial, plumbing, and electronics, nylon 6/6 parts hold up well for extended duty in a wide range of environments. Common products with nylon 6/6 construction include:
- Bushings and bearings
- Gears and wheels
- Hinges
- Valve components
- Seals, seats, and gaskets
- Fasteners, washers, and spacers
- Cams and followers
- Guides, guide wheels, and rollers
- Wear strips and pads, sleeves, and liners
- Insulators
- Automotive parts
- Tire ropes
- Radiator caps
- Machinery and conveyor belt components
- Pipe and hose components
- Tooling and dies
- And much more…
Nylon 6/6 Solutions With New Process Fibre
Possessing a unique combination of strength, durability, natural rigidity, and heat and chemical resistance, nylon 6/6 is an ideal solution for applications requiring a long-lasting, non-metallic component. At NPF, we are industry leaders in nylon materials and non-metallic stamping and fabrication. Our team focuses on providing customers with top-quality, cost-effective solutions using our wide selection of material options, with significant expertise in nylon 6/6. NPF nylons are made with virgin materials to ensure we produce the best quality products.
Contact us with any questions on custom fabrication, parts, materials, or our capabilities, or refer to the data sheets below and our extensive product catalog for more information
