Nylon — more precisely polyamide, or PA — is one of the toughest engineering plastics you can buy. It resists wear, survives impacts, and machines or moulds into strong, precise parts. That combination has kept it a workhorse in machinery, automotive and consumer products for decades.
What nylon is
Polyamides are polymers linked by amide bonds, the same chemistry found in proteins. That structure gives nylon its strength and toughness. It is semi-crystalline, which means it is stiff and abrasion-resistant, but it also absorbs moisture — a key design consideration that sets it apart from POM and PTFE.
The properties that matter
| Toughness | Excellent — high impact resistance |
| Wear resistance | Very good, especially abrasive wear |
| Friction | Low; self-lubricating |
| Temperature | Up to approx. 100 °C continuous |
| Moisture absorption | Noticeable — dimensions can shift |
| Machinability | Good; tough on tooling |
The main types of nylon
- Nylon 6 / Nylon 66 — the general-purpose grades; strong, tough and widely available.
- Cast nylon (MC) — produced by casting, giving larger sections and better dimensional stability; a favourite for machined parts.
- Nylon 12 — lower moisture absorption and better dimensional stability.
- Oil-filled / MoS₂-filled — reduced friction for dry-running wear parts.
- Glass-filled — higher stiffness and strength for structural parts.
Where nylon is used
- Gears and sprockets — tough, quiet and self-lubricating.
- Bushings, bearings and wear pads — especially where shock loads occur.
- Rollers and wheels — for conveyors and material handling.
- Automotive — under-hood parts, clips and functional components.
- Industrial — guides, pipe components and electrical insulators.
The moisture caveat
Nylon absorbs water from the air, which makes it swell slightly and softens it. For tight-tolerance parts in humid or wet service, this must be designed for — or you may be better served by cast nylon, nylon 12, or a different polymer altogether. It is the single biggest reason nylon parts move or seize in the field.
Get nylon in the form you need
We supply nylon 6, 66 and cast nylon in sheets, rods and finished machined parts. See the full nylon specification or ask for a quote.