Polyamide (Nylon)

Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic thermoplastic polymers known generically as polyamides, developed in 1938.

Nylons are condensation copolymers formed by reacting a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid. Chemical elements included are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

The numerical suffix specifies the numbers of carbons donated by the monomers; the diamine first and the diacid second. The most common variant is Nylon 6-6 which refers to the fact that the diamine and the diacid each donate 6 carbons to the polymer chain. The levels of these monomers has an influence on the chemical resistance as well as the mechanical properties.

Nylon offers excellent mechanical properties in combination with good sheer strength, deformation and wear resistance. Chemical resistance is generally broad, with good resistance to most chemicals, although Nylon can be susceptible to damage when exposed to moisture.