What is Glass Filled Nylon: Guida definitiva
Are you planning to start a new project with glass-filled nylon and want to learn about it? You are at the right place then.
Glass-filled nylon is a material used in different applications for its versatile characteristics. This guide below has the answers to all your questions about glass-filled nylon, so let's read.
What is Glass Filled Nylon?
Glass filled nylon is a combination of nylon and glass. It is nylon with glass reinforced on it. It is known for various properties found in glass and nylon. It exhibits mechanical damping followed by excellent creep resistance.
It is also opted for the improved heat distortion temperature it offers. When glass fibers are mixed with nylon resins, a composite material is formed.
It is used for components that are high-performing. The glass fibers used in the material range between 10 to 40% of the total weight.
Properties of Glass Filled Nylon
Glass-filled nylon has been chosen for different projects due to its excellent properties. Some of its properties are as follows:
- Glass-filled nylon offers excellent strength and fatigue resistance.
- It does not deform easily and is also warp-resistant due to its low thermal expansion.
- Glass-filled nylon can work under a wide temperature range and maintains its dimensional stability as well.
- It offers seamless creep resistance, and even when subjected to mechanical pressure, it prevents deformation.
- It is highly shock absorbing and can even resist vibration, so it is suitable for applications that are vibration-sensitive.
Advantages of Glass Filled Nylon
Glass-filled nylon offers multiple benefits, which is why it is used in many applications, and some of these are as follows:
High Moldability
Glass-filled nylon can be molded in versatile shapes and designs, regardless of its complexity. It can be used for injection molding, and the required product is achieved.
High Electrical Insulation
Glass-filled nylon has seamless electrical insulation. It is, therefore, used for electronic component manufacturing.
Enhanced Strength
It has high tensile strength and an enhanced modulus of elasticity, which makes it suitable for applications that require load-bearing capacity and structural integrity.
Excellent Impact Resistance
The glass and nylon combination improves cracking resistance and allows it to handle more pressure. Hence, applications that involve dynamic loading find it suitable.
High Dimensional Stability
The addition of glass fibers in the nylon lowers the coefficient of thermal expansion. It also makes the material dimensionally stable.
Hence, there is a reduced chance of warping, expansion, or shrinking due to the changes in temperature.
Disadvantages of Glass Filled Nylon
Glass-filled nylon has ample benefits, but there are some downsides of it, too, which are as follows:
- Glass-filled nylon has a higher weight, which is about 15% more than nylon, which makes it unstable for low-weight applications.
- It has anisotropic properties, which cause misalignment of glass fiber in the machining process, leading to varied stiffness through different axes of the component.
- The impact of glass fiber on the mating surface may be abrasive, and hence, it is not suitable for sliding applications.
- It absorbs moisture, which is why structural weakness is observed in it when subjected to wet environments.
- It's expensive compared to the unfilled nylon in most cases.
- It is highly brittle, and under a high-stress environment, it may fracture or crack.
How is Glass-Filled Nylon Used in Parts Production?
The process of manufacturing glass-filled nylon is discussed below.
Lavorazione CNC
Lavorazione CNC is a very ideal process when it comes to manufacturing components using glass-filled nylon.
It is, however, suggested that carbide-based cutting tools be used when machining glass-filled nylon due to its abrasive properties. Moreover, during machining, it is suggested to even work on low cutting speed, which also offers optimal cuts with low tool wear.
Stampa 3D
3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that utilizes glass-filled nylon and manufactures 3D components. The process works by adding layer after layer using different 3D printing methods.
The nozzles for 3D printing that work with glass-filled nylon should be made of hardened steel to deal with the abrasive nature of the material.
Stampaggio a iniezione
The injection molding process uses different types of glass-filled nylon. The material offers high abrasion. Hence, the materials used for injection molding tools must be able to deal with this abrasion and are preferred to be made using hard steel.
Common Types of Glass-Filled Nylon
There are different grades of glass-filled nylon, and each type has its own properties and uses. Some of these common grades of glass-filled nylon are as follows:
PA 6/6 GF
PA 6/6 GF has about 15 to 50% glass material, and it has excellent impact resistance, rigidity, and thermal properties. It also has good thermal stability and moisture resistance.
Hence, it is widely used in precision-oriented applications and load-bearing parts like machine components and pulleys.
PA 6 GF
PA 6 GF has a ratio of glass of about 15 to 45% combined with nylon 6. The addition of glass fiber improves the impact resistance, moisture absorption, and mechanical performance of the material. It is then used in engine guards and plastic enclosures.
PA 12 GF
PA 12 GF has PA 12 as a base material, and its glass is enforced in a ratio of up to 30%. It offers high chemical resistance and also has a low melting point with limited strength.
However, it is suitable for such applications which require stable chemical properties rather than mechanical ones.
PA 46 GF
PA 46 GF is high-performing glass-filled nylon. It has high wear resistance and excellent thermal stability. It is suitable for most applications, like making circuit breaker components for electric motors and sensors.
PA 6/6 GF FR
PA 6/6 GF FR has flame-retardant properties. Hence, it is suitable for applications in which safety from fire hazards is needed. It is mostly used in appliances and electrical circuits.
Applications of Glass Reinforced Nylon
There are many applications of glass-filled nylon, and some of these are as follows:
Industrial Applications: It is used in industries for manufacturing different parts like pipes, valves, bushings, conveyor belts and other components for machinery.
Automobile: The glass filled nylon is used in the automobile industry to make car components like gears, fan blades, fuel tank caps, and latches.
Elettronica: Glass-filled nylon is used for earphones, printers, cameras, printer cartridges, and other electronic components.
Household: It is suitable for households manufacturing consumer products like vacuum cleaners, water purifiers, combs, and other appliances.
What’s the Difference Between Nylon 12 and Glass-Filled Nylon?
Glass-filled nylon is a nylon material that consists of glass fibers, making it stronger than nylon. It has high rigidity and is hence suitable for components that need excellent mechanical performance.
Nylon 12, on the other hand, offers impact resistance, mechanical strength, and resistance against chemicals. However, it has low friction and moisture absorption, which makes it work well in humid environments.
Get Machined Glass-Filled Nylon Parts at DEK
Glass filled nylon has versatile uses in different industries, and if you are looking for machine components made of glass filled nylon, you can contact DEK.
We design and manufacture custom glass filled nylon components for your projects as specified by you. We have advanced manufacturing processes, high-quality materials, and expert engineers.
Conclusione
As you have read the guide above, it would have been sufficient to help you with your new project related to glass filled nylon.
It is very crucial to understand the properties, manufacturing processes, and applications of this material before you choose it for your projects.
Domande frequenti
How does glass-filled nylon compare to unfilled nylon?
Glass-filled nylon offers better strength, creep resistance, and dampening properties compared to unfilled nylon.
Is glass-filled nylon stronger than polymer?
Yes, glass-filled nylon offers superior strength compared to polymer.
How do you choose glass-filled nylon grade for machining applications?
Glass filled nylon is hard and strong with a high glass-fiber ratio, but the harder it is, the more difficult it is to machine.
What safety precautions are important when machining glass-filled nylon?
Glass-filled nylon, when machined, produces a lot of dust which can contaminate the environment of the workshop. It requires proper filtration and ventilation when machining it.
